Hadahada Even Maple Leaf Viewing Tickets Are Scalped... Reselling with Markup Thrives for Entry to Hwadamsup

Some Autumn Foliage Spots Operate Reservation System Due to COVID-19 and Ecological Conservation
Popular Hwadamsup Fully Booked on Weekends... 'Resell' at 2-3 Times the Price

On the 21st, with clear autumn weather, the foliage is coloring in Bukhansan National Park, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As the autumn foliage season begins, more visitors are flocking to popular spots for leaf viewing, and illegal ticket scalping is rampant for the paid admission tickets to Hwadam Forest. It appears that most scalpers have swept up tickets sold through online reservations.

As of the 25th, when the peak autumn foliage season has fully arrived, some national parks and other foliage hotspots are operating on a reservation basis. This is to limit the number of visitors due to COVID-19, preserve the ecosystem, and ensure visitor safety. The Korea National Park Service under the Ministry of Environment has been actively operating a reservation system for autumn foliage trails since the 1st, starting with seven trail sections including Guryeong Valley in Jirisan National Park.

Meanwhile, Hwadam Forest in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, which operates on a paid admission basis, is seeing an increase in visitors due to its proximity to the Seoul metropolitan area and word of mouth. Weekend reservations have already been sold out throughout the operating period. While weekday tickets are relatively easier to obtain, it is practically impossible to get weekend tickets, which are more convenient for visitors.

Given this situation, illegal tickets for Hwadam Forest have appeared on online trading sites such as Junggonara. Tickets priced at 10,000 KRW per adult are being traded at two to three times the price, with over 50 listings posted within half a day. Some scalpers have bought up large quantities of reserved tickets and are reselling them with a premium. Some sellers are even selling tickets in batches of 10.

Hwadam Forest is aware of this situation and states on its website that “if illegal ticket transactions are detected, reservations may be canceled without prior notice through tracking,” but this has little effect. Ticket scalping can be punished with a fine of up to 600,000 KRW, detention, or a penalty under Article 3, Paragraph 2, Item 4 of the Minor Offenses Act, but there are no appropriate penalties for online transactions.

According to data submitted by the Korea Creative Content Agency and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to Representative Yoo Jeong-ju of the Democratic Party, reports received on the 'Online Illegal Ticket Reporting Board' reached 3,594 cases by September this year, a significant increase compared to 359 cases in 2020 and 785 cases in 2021.

In particular, with the resumption of large-scale concerts by famous singers this year, scalping using macro programs to bulk-buy tickets and resell them at a premium is rampant. However, among the 4,708 cases reported to the online illegal ticket reporting board, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has not requested police investigations in any case. Representative Yoo’s office pointed out, “It is urgent to improve the system by amending related laws such as the Performance Act to prohibit the use of illegal macro programs to resell tickets at a premium.”