11,000-Won Tickets Inflated to the 40,000-Won Range... What's Happening at Hwadam Forest, an "Autumn Foliage Hotspot"?

Hwadam Forest Tickets Listed for Nearly Four Times Face Value
Reservation Competition Intensifies as Social Media Drives Popularity
Legal Limits on Regulating Resales at Tourist Attractions
Concerns Grow Over Denied Entry and Fraud

Tickets to Hwadam Forest in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, a popular autumn foliage destination, are causing controversy after being listed for sale at nearly four times their face value. As competition for reservations has intensified during foliage season, so-called ticket scalpers who secure tickets in advance and resell them at a markup have been thriving. Although regulations on ticket scalping for performances and sporting events have been tightened, critics say tickets to tourist attractions remain in a legal blind spot.

Hwadam Forest is one of the Seoul metropolitan area's top destinations for autumn foliage. Located in Docheok-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, this ecological arboretum is transformed into a spectacular scene each fall as its many varieties of maple trees turn red and yellow. The Asia Business Daily

On the 29th, a post appeared on a secondhand trading platform offering two adult tickets to Hwadam Forest for 85,000 won. An adult ticket normally costs 11,000 won, making the regular price for two tickets 22,000 won. The seller's asking price was 63,000 won above face value, or about 3.9 times the regular price. The seller solicited buyers, saying, "I'll share the QR codes 30 minutes before entry." Because buyers would not receive the actual tickets until just before entering, they would also have to accept the risk of fraud or being denied admission.

11,000-won tickets listed in the 40,000-won range... Opportunistic reselling surges every foliage season

Ticket resales that take advantage of foliage season are recurring on secondhand trading platforms and online communities. Some sellers say they can no longer visit because of personal circumstances, but there are also many cases in which they demand prices several times higher than face value. Hwadam Forest is one of the Seoul metropolitan area's top destinations for autumn foliage. Located in Docheok-myeon, Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, this ecological arboretum is transformed into a spectacular scene each fall as its many varieties of maple trees turn red and yellow.

The monorail winding through the colorful forest is one of Hwadam Forest's signature attractions. Visitors can admire the fall foliage along the walking trails, while the monorail offers sweeping views of the autumn landscape from above, making it popular with families and couples. The widespread attention Hwadam Forest's fall scenery has received on social media has also contributed to its popularity. Photos and videos of the monorail passing among red maple trees have attracted attention, concentrating demand for visits during the fall.

Ticket scalping is rampant because legal regulations have their limits. On August 28, the government brought into force amendments to the Public Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, along with related enforcement decrees, strengthening penalties for the illegal purchase and resale of tickets to performances and sporting events. The Asia Business Daily

Hwadam Forest's peak autumn season this year runs from October 23 to November 15. Ticket reservations opened on September 16. During busy periods, fierce competition for reservations develops, with online booking queues forming. The problem is that resellers seeking to profit from this popularity can take away ordinary visitors' opportunities to book tickets through legitimate channels.

Online communities are filled with complaints from users trying to snap up canceled tickets in a practice known as "Chwigeting" (a blend of canceled tickets and ticketing). Some users say they regularly check for cancellations to avoid buying from scalpers, but that it is difficult to secure tickets for their preferred date and time.

Hwadam Forest has also announced a tough stance against unauthorized ticket transactions. Its official booking guide warns that tickets purchased through unofficial channels, including secondhand trading, may not be accepted for entry, and that reservations may be canceled without prior notice if illegal trading is detected. The forest also says it will not be responsible for losses resulting from unauthorized ticket transactions.

Reselling exploits reservation competition... Tourist attraction tickets remain in a regulatory blind spot

Ticket scalping is rampant because legal regulations have their limits. On August 28, the government brought into force amendments to the Public Performance Act and the National Sports Promotion Act, along with related enforcement decrees, strengthening penalties for the illegal purchase and resale of tickets to performances and sporting events. Under the amended laws, it is prohibited to circumvent or interfere with a ticketing system to purchase tickets for resale, regardless of whether a bot program is used. Also subject to penalties is the habitual or commercial resale of tickets above their purchase price without the original seller's consent.

Experts say regulations need to be updated as the resale of tourist attraction tickets at inflated prices continues to recur. Under current law, depending on how a transaction is conducted, it could give rise to charges such as fraud or obstruction of business. However, simply reselling an admission ticket at a higher price does not by itself result in criminal penalties. The Asia Business Daily

Illegal sellers may face surcharges of up to 50 times the sale price. The amendments also established a whistleblower reward program and provisions for the confiscation or collection of illicit gains. However, the laws apply only to tickets for performances and sporting events. General admission tickets to tourist attractions such as Hwadam Forest are not directly covered.

Experts say regulations need to be updated as the resale of tourist attraction tickets at inflated prices continues to recur. Under current law, depending on how a transaction is conducted, it could give rise to charges such as fraud or obstruction of business. However, simply reselling an admission ticket at a higher price does not by itself result in criminal penalties. Calls are growing for institutional measures to prevent both the illicit purchase of tickets to tourist attractions and habitual resale at inflated prices.

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