The Korea Popular Music and Concert Industry Association (KPMCIA) is launching an effort to eradicate ticket scalping on domestic and international resale platforms using artificial intelligence technology.
The KPMCIA said Monday that the initiative is part of the "2026 Music Chart Manipulation and Concert Ticket Scalping Eradication Monitoring and Campaign" project organized by the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA). The association will activate its self-developed automated anti-scalping system called "SMAIT," which applies AI and optical character recognition (OCR) technology to strengthen monitoring. In the past, scalpers evaded detection by posting ticket information as images on resale platforms. Now, AI reads the text within images to precisely identify illegal transaction postings.
The KPMCIA will conduct real-time monitoring across domestic resale platforms such as Danggeun Market and Bungaejangter, as well as platforms in six countries including Ticketmaster in the United States, Viagogo in Switzerland, Yahoo Auctions in Japan, and Xianyu in China. Social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram are also being monitored. On-site scalping surveillance is also being carried out at concert venues. The association conducted intensive daily monitoring at the free comeback concert by BTS held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on May 21.
"We are currently monitoring ticket scalping for large-scale concerts and festivals whose ticket sales have already begun," the KPMCIA said. "We will continue to closely watch performances where large-scale scalping is expected and maintain our operational response."
The association also plans to operate anti-scalping campaign booths at major concerts and festivals, and introduce audience-participation event programs.
"Ticket scalping is a clear criminal act that undermines the value of performing arts and disrupts the market," KPMCIA Chairman Ko Ki-ho said. "We will go beyond simple monitoring to create an environment where artists and audiences are not harmed by scalping."
Meanwhile, under the revised Performance Act that passed the National Assembly plenary session in January, fines of up to 50 times the sales amount can be imposed when ticket scalping is detected. The law takes effect in August.