The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on August 21, 2026, that it referred a woman in her 30s to prosecutors without detention on suspicion of violating the Network Act and the Performance Act, as well as obstructing business. She is suspected of using macro programs and other methods to illegally purchase about 2,600 tickets for idol concerts and other performances between April 2023 and March 2026.

The figures that must first be distinguished in this case are the approximately 2,600 tickets in total and the nine tickets for BTS’s Gwanghwamun concert.

The BTS-related tickets numbered nine

The suspect is accused of booking nine tickets for BTS’s Gwanghwamun concert using accounts in the names of family members and acquaintances. This is the reported number of BTS-related tickets identified among the approximately 2,600 tickets covering multiple performances. Reports said the nine tickets did not actually lead to illegal resale after police uncovered the case.

Therefore, describing the case as “2,600 BTS tickets” would misrepresent the number of tickets involved. The confirmed figures are approximately 2,600 concert tickets in total and nine tickets for BTS’s Gwanghwamun concert.

442 million won is not an amount already recovered

Police applied for pre-indictment preservation of confiscation and collection concerning estimated criminal proceeds of approximately 442 million won. This amount is the estimated criminal proceeds calculated by police and the amount covered by the preservation application; it does not mean that the money has already been confiscated or recovered.

Enforcement of the amended Performance Act and the case procedure

The amended Performance Act, which took effect on August 28, 2026, prohibits the illicit purchase and resale of performance tickets and provides a basis for administrative fines of up to 50 times the sale amount. This provision should be understood as institutional background; it does not mean that a final legal judgment has been issued in the suspect’s case.

The case is progressing as follows.

  1. April 2023–March 2026: Period during which the suspect allegedly illegally purchased approximately 2,600 tickets
  2. August 21, 2026: The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency referred the suspect to prosecutors without detention
  3. August 28, 2026: The amended Performance Act took effect
Referral to prosecutors is one stage of the investigative process. It does not mean that the suspect’s guilt or final criminal liability has been established.

Sources and verification time

  • Yonhap News Agency, “Woman faces prosecution over ticket scalping involving BTS, other concerts” — https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260826006300315
  • MBC News, “Macro booking of more than 2,000 concert tickets including BTS tickets… Woman in her 30s sent to prosecutors after making 400 million won” — https://imnews.imbc.com/news/2026/society/article/6847460_36918.html
  • Maeil Business Newspaper, “Made 400 million won from 2,600 scalped tickets… Woman in her 30s sent to prosecutors” — https://www.mk.co.kr/news/society/12137526
  • National Law Information Center, “Performance Act Articles 4-2 and 4-4” — https://law.go.kr/lsLinkCommonInfo.do?chrClsCd=010202&lsJoLnkSeq=1025609287

Verification time: August 30, 2026, 15:55–15:58 (UTC record)