A poster for “The Odyssey” is displayed at a movie theater in Seoul on Aug. 17.YONHAP
The Korean Film Council (Kofic) is asking moviegoers to report suspected ticket scalping for premium-format screenings after tickets for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” were repeatedly resold at steep markups following the film’s release.
Kofic said Wednesday that it will accept reports on scalping involving premium auditoriums at theaters to assess the extent of improper resale and mitigate the burden on moviegoers.
People can report ticketsfor premium formats such as IMAX and Dolby Cinemascreenings that are resold above face value on secondhand marketplaces or social media. Prospective moviegoers can also report peoplesuspected of bulk ticket purchases made through automated programs known as macros.
Complaints have mounted since “The Odyssey” opened, as tickets for popular premium-format screenings have repeatedly appeared for resale at prices far above face value. Some listings have offered IMAX tickets in the 100,000 won ($71) range. By comparison, an adult IMAX ticket at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall typically costs between 17,000 won and 22,000 won depending on the day and time. Another seller was reportedly found offering more than 10 tickets for a single screening.
The listings have fueled online suspicion that some resellers are using macros to secure popular seats before reselling them at a markup.
Kofic asked that reports be submitted with evidence, such as screenshots of scalping listings or records of conversations with sellers. Reports should include the film title, theater, screening date and time and seat information, along with supporting materials such as screenshots of resale listings or transaction conversations, sent to Kofic’s designated email address.
A moviegoer purchases tickets for “The Odyssey” at a theater in Seoul on Aug. 17.NEWS1
Kofic’s fair growth center said profiteering by ticket scalpers not only deprives the public of a fair chance to see films but also undermines trust in the film industry as a whole.
The concern is especially acute for premium screenings, which offer fewer seats and showtimes than regular ones — meaning scalping can significantly limit real opportunities to see popular pictures.
Kofic plans to use the reports to gauge how ticket scalping is being carried out and its scale. The collected information will feed into future measures to curb improper resale of movie tickets.
BY JEONG JAE-HONG [kim.hayoon1@joongang.co.kr]
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
