"Not Even 30% Markup Allowed, Must Sell at Face Value or Less" UK Cracks Down on Ticket Resale

UK to Allow Ticket Resale Only at or Below Face Value
Oasis Tickets Spark Controversy After Selling for 850,000 Won
Pop Stars and Sports Figures Call for Action Against Ticket Scalpers

The British government plans to prohibit the resale of tickets for concerts, sporting events, and similar occasions at prices higher than their original value. On November 18 (local time), Yonhap News Agency, citing BBC and other sources, reported, "Previously, the British government was considering setting a cap so that tickets could not be resold for more than 30% above face value, but it will soon announce a new policy that will only allow resale at or below the original price."

A photo showing the crowd at the British rock band Oasis's live '25 Tour' held last September at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, USA, to help readers understand the article. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

Recently, there has been a surge in cases where tickets are purchased in bulk using macro programs called bots and then resold at inflated prices, leading to frustration among fans who are unable to obtain tickets or are forced to pay exorbitant amounts. The controversy intensified earlier this year when tickets for the British band Oasis's concert at Wembley Stadium in London soared to as much as 4,442 pounds (approximately 850,000 won).

According to the consumer information company Which?, the practice of buying tickets from around the world-including the United States, Brazil, Dubai, Singapore, and Spain-and reselling them at a premium on secondary market sites has become widespread. In fact, tickets for London performances by Diana Ross, Oasis, and Lady Gaga this summer were resold at prices up to 490% higher than their face value.

Recently, pop stars such as Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Radiohead, along with football supporters' associations, issued a joint statement urging authorities to "address the elements of the secondary market that pursue only the profits of ticket scalpers and prevent genuine fans from accessing music, theater, and sports due to exploitative practices."

The Financial Times predicted that if the new policy is implemented, it will deal a blow to secondary ticket resale platforms such as StubHub and Viagogo. On November 17, StubHub's stock price on the New York Stock Exchange fell by nearly 14% compared to the previous session. A spokesperson for StubHub International argued, "If a price cap is introduced in a regulated market, ticket trading will move to the black market," adding, "When a black market forms, only bad things happen to consumers."

On the 26th of last month, spectators cheered during the first game of the 2025 professional baseball KBO League postseason Korean Series between the Hanwha Eagles and the LG Twins held at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

This issue has also been raised several times in South Korea. During a recent parliamentary audit, Assemblyman Cho Seungrae of the Democratic Party of Korea disclosed data from the National Tax Service, stating, "The top 1% of sellers (441 individuals) on the ticket trading platform Ticketbay conduct 120,000 transactions annually, accounting for 41% of all transactions," and pointed out, "Despite being habitual and commercial transactions, it is difficult to crack down due to the lack of data sharing between agencies."

On November 11, President Lee Jaemyung instructed during a cabinet meeting regarding measures to eradicate ticket scalping for concerts and sporting events that "fines are much more effective than criminal penalties," and ordered a review of imposing substantial fines. On November 18, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee passed an amendment to the National Sports Promotion Act that imposes fines for the illegal sale of sports event tickets. The amendment prohibits the illegal purchase and sale of tickets and establishes a legal basis for imposing fines in case of violations. The fines can be up to 50 times the sale amount.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.