A man in his 30s has been arrested for orchestrating a large-scale ticket scam involving counterfeit passes to BLACKPINK concerts, the Dongjak Police Station confirmed.
The suspect, identified only as Mr. A, was apprehended at approximately 9:20 p.m. on June 17 at a café in Seoul’s Dongjak-gu district. Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a stakeout at the location, where Mr. A had reportedly arranged to meet a potential buyer to sell what he claimed were legitimate BLACKPINK tickets.
Upon investigation, officers discovered forged tickets in his possession, which contained multiple inconsistencies, including misspelled words and flawed design elements. Verification with the official ticketing agency confirmed the tickets were indeed counterfeit.
Scam Earned Over $58,000
Authorities revealed that Mr. A had sold around 500 fake tickets via a secondhand online marketplace. Through this scam, he allegedly earned approximately 80 million Korean Won, equivalent to roughly $58,000 USD.
The case has reignited concerns over ticket fraud in the K-pop industry, particularly with BLACKPINK’s immense global fanbase and soaring demand for concert passes. Fraudsters often exploit this demand by circulating fake tickets through unofficial resale platforms.
Investigation Underway
Police are currently expanding their investigation to determine whether Mr. A operated alone or as part of a larger criminal network. They are also probing potential links to other fraudulent activities.
Officials have urged fans to purchase concert tickets exclusively through verified and official channels to avoid falling victim to scams.
BLACKPINK, comprising Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa, remains one of the most popular girl groups globally, with tickets for their upcoming tour reportedly selling out within minutes.
