[Edaily Starin Gim Ga Yeong Reporter] The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) is taking steps to investigate the state of illegal ticket trading (scalping) at special screening venues in domestic movie theaters—such as IMAX, 4XD, and Dolby Cinema—to prevent harm to audiences and foster a fair viewing environment.

The KOFIC announced on the 19th, “We will be accepting reports regarding scalping on an ongoing basis starting on the 18th.”
Illegal ticket trading has persisted, where scalpers use macro programs to bulk-reserve seats in special screening formats—which are highly sought after by audiences when blockbuster films are released—and then resell them at a premium on online resale platforms and social media. Director Christopher Nolan’s recently released film “Ad Astra” is a prime example. IMAX tickets for “Ad Astra,” which normally cost around 20,000 won, have been consistently listed at a premium on secondhand trading platforms. Prices soared to the 100,000-won range around the time of the film’s release.
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced that it plans to open a dedicated reporting channel to collect specific details on actual cases of harm and evidence of fraudulent transactions. Reports should be submitted in the following cases: △ instances where individuals have suffered losses due to premium-priced resales of tickets for special screening venues; △ instances where posts or evidence of scalping have been identified on secondhand trading platforms, social media, or ticket trading sites; and △ instances where abnormal bulk bookings—such as those suspected of using macros—have been detected.
Audience members wishing to report such incidents should submit a report via the dedicated email address, including the movie title, theater (location), screening date and time, and seat information, along with supporting evidence such as screenshots of resale posts, chat logs, and transaction URLs.
Based on the collected reports, the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) plans to conduct a thorough analysis of the distribution structure of scalped tickets for special screenings and the extent of the damage caused. It intends to use this information as a foundation for establishing effective measures to eradicate scalping, including consultations with major online trading platforms and relevant government agencies, improvements to anti-scalping systems, and revisions to laws and regulations.
The KOFIC Fair Growth Center stated, “The actions of some scalpers seeking to obtain unfair profits are a serious problem that deprives moviegoers of their rightful opportunity to view films and undermines trust in the industry as a whole,” adding, “The identity of the informant and the details of the report will be kept strictly confidential in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, so we ask for the active interest and reports from all moviegoers.”