TAIPEI: Taiwanese authorities have dismantled a significant ticket scalping operation that illegally resold tickets for G-Dragon’s recent concerts in Taipei, netting the ring an estimated NT$20 million (RM2.87 million) in illicit profits.
According to reports from China Times and Liberty Times yesterday, Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau apprehended four suspects, including a man identified as Liu, for their involvement in illegally reselling tickets to G-Dragon’s world tour, which took place at the Taipei Arena from July 11 to 13.
A raid on the group’s premises on July 15 uncovered substantial evidence: over 1,500 ticket serial codes, more than 1,000 physical tickets for the G-Dragon concerts, 500 BlackPink tickets for an upcoming October show in Kaohsiung, and NT$164,000 (RM23,557) in cash.
Liu reportedly collaborated with a Hong Kong-based ticketing engineer who utilised hacking tools and ID-generating software to purchase large quantities of tickets.
Liu allegedly paid a service fee of NT$2,000–3,000 (RM287–430) per ticket, which were then resold at grossly inflated prices.
Tickets originally priced at NT$800 (RM115) were resold for as much as NT$9,800 (RM1,407).
Even more shockingly, top-tier tickets, initially costing NT$8,980 (RM1,290), were flipped for an astonishing NT$55,000 (RM7,900).
The scalpers operated from a hotel located near the venue, where they created fake IDs and hired staff to help buyers circumvent ID checks at the concert.
Around 300 scalped tickets were reportedly used on July 11, leading to widespread outrage among fans and numerous complaints to the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Consequently, some buyers were denied entry and are now seeking refunds.
This incident has reignited criticism of Taiwan’s real-name ticketing system.
A similar scandal occurred in March 2023 during BlackPink’s tour, where tickets originally priced at NT$8,800 (RM1,264) were scalped for an exorbitant NT$400,000 (RM57,455).
In response to such persistent abuses, Taiwan revised its Cultural and Creative Industries Development Act in 2023.
Under the updated legislation, scalpers now face significant fines of up to 50 times the resold ticket price.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
