Ticket scalping is once again rampant ahead of the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, with tickets being resold at steep markups just a week before the annual event at Yeouido Hangang Park. The government has moved to tighten laws against ticket scalping, but fireworks festivals fall outside the scope of existing regulations, leaving authorities with no legal grounds to crack down on resales and allowing the problem to persist year after year. The festival, now in its 22nd year, is scheduled to take place Saturday. The annual event draws around 1 million spectators each year. Since 2024, Hanwha, the organizer of the festival, has been setting up designated viewing areas at Yeouido Hangang Park, offering seats through a lottery for spectators seeking a closer view of the fireworks. This year, Hanwha offers 700 paid seats at Nodeul Island, dubbed the Orange Play Zone, priced between 110,000 won ($79.70) and 220,000 won depending on the viewing area. Numerous festival tickets were listed on secondhand trading platforms at prices well above face value as of Sunday. One seller offered two
Ticket scalping surges ahead of Seoul fireworks festival amid legal loophole
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