K-pop fever fuels university festival ticket scalping

University festival season in South Korea has become increasingly popular, with campuses inviting famous K-pop artists and attracting huge crowds. However, concerns are growing over ticket scalping, as people resell festival tickets or lend student IDs at highly inflated prices. Online platforms are filled with offers ranging from 100,000 won to 500,000 won for access to these events.

Many universities spend hundreds of millions of won to hire top celebrities for festivals. Schools like Kyungpook National University and Pusan National University have significantly increased their festival budgets this year. In response to scalping, universities such as Yonsei University introduced stricter verification systems, including mobile tickets linked to verified identities. Despite these efforts, resellers continue finding ways to bypass restrictions.

Even free festivals face problems, especially in student-only seating areas near the stage. Some students rent out their IDs, jackets or online accounts to outsiders for money. Universities have started warning students that misuse of IDs may lead to disciplinary action or even criminal charges. As celebrity-focused events continue to grow, some students worry that university festivals are losing their original purpose of building school spirit and community.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source : https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10737944

Comprehension

Why are university festivals becoming targets for ticket scalpers?
How much are some resold tickets being sold for online?
What measures did Yonsei University introduce to prevent ticket scalping?
What are some methods people use to bypass identity checks?
Why do some students believe university festivals are changing negatively?

Discussion

Do you think university festivals should remain free for students? Why or why not?
How does ticket scalping affect ordinary students?
Should universities spend large amounts of money on celebrity performances?
What are some effective ways to stop ticket reselling?
Is lending a student ID to someone else a serious offense?
Why do K-pop artists attract such huge crowds at university festivals?
How can universities balance entertainment and school community spirit?
Have you ever attended a school festival or concert? What was your experience like?

Vocabulary

Scalper – a person who resells tickets at much higher prices
Inflated – increased to a much higher amount than normal
Verification – the process of checking if something is true or valid
Coveted – strongly desired or wanted
Disciplinary action – punishment for breaking rules
Liability – legal responsibility for something
Bypass – to avoid or go around a rule or system
Fandom – a group of fans who strongly support a celebrity or group