“An End To K-Pop Ticket Wars?” The Real Reason Agencies Have Started Prioritizing Domestic Fans

Recently, K-Pop agencies have been implementing the pre-sale ticketing system for domestic fan clubs for concerts in Korea. This is seen as an attempt to allow more domestic fans to obtain tickets due to fierce competition, even for performances held in Korea.

However, this new system has triggered a massive response from both domestic and international fans.

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Music critic Randy Seo revealed two reasons for this new system: to curb ticket scalping and to strengthen domestic fandom.

Although there are domestic scalpers, it is more difficult to catch and punish overseas scalpers, so they are trying to narrow access to ticket reservations overall. With more overseas scalpers and foreign fans visiting with illegal tickets, complaints from Korean fans have been very high.

— Randy Seo

He added that it seemed that they were trying to give more opportunities to domestic fans.

It seems that they are aware of this and are making improvements. Although traveling to concerts for tourism is encouraged, it looks like they have decided to listen to domestic fans, even if it means a decrease in attendance.

— Randy Seo

Another entertainment official stated, “It seems they are trying to give more opportunities to domestic audiences since it is a domestic concert.”

However, K-netizens expressed a divided response to the system.

• “It’s a good thing if they are taking care of the domestic fans.”
• “Either way, it’s a good thing.”
• “No matter how much they try to hold onto international fans, if they lose the domestic fandom, the idol group will become a failure.”
• “It makes me more furious that they haven’t implemented this system sooner.”
• “Oh…?”
• “Foreign scalpers still find a way into the domestic pre-sale.”
• “Do they suddenly find domestic fans to be precious? LOL.”