Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) Refers 35 Chuseok Ticket-Scalping Cases for Investigation and Forcibly Expels 8 Members

[Financial News] Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) referred 35 suspected ticket-scalping transactions identified during the Chuseok holiday to investigators and forcibly expelled eight railway members who sold tickets at inflated prices.
KORAIL said on the 2nd that it had launched a crackdown on illegal tickets, including the detection of a passenger who forged a ticket using generative artificial intelligence (AI).
The crackdown was carried out to eradicate ticket scalping and ticket forgery during the Chuseok holiday.
The 35 cases referred for investigation were identified through citizen reports submitted to the ticket-scalping reporting center on the KORAIL website and the KORAIL+ mobile app (25 cases), as well as the 'mystery shopper' method, in which employees posed as buyers (10 cases).
KORAIL provided KTX-Sancheon discount coupons to those who submitted reports. The eight sellers caught through mystery shopping had their membership revoked in accordance with the 'Terms and Conditions on Railway Membership and Use.'
Sellers who repeatedly or commercially engaged in ticket scalping were also subject to administrative fines. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), two people each paid an administrative fine of 6 million won in July. Under the current Railway Business Act, reselling tickets at a premium habitually or for commercial purposes is punishable by an administrative fine of up to 10 million won.
A new type of forgery crime involving the misuse of generative AI was also uncovered as onboard ticket inspections were strengthened. On the 20th of last month, a passenger who presented an AI-forged ticket was handed over to the Railway Special Judicial Police. The passenger was booked on suspicion of securities forgery and is awaiting transfer to prosecutors.
Lee Min-seong, head of KORAIL's Passenger Business Division, said, "Ticket scalping and ticket forgery are clearly illegal acts. We will respond firmly by further strengthening citizen reporting, undercover crackdowns and onboard ticket inspections, while protecting the rights of legitimate passengers."
[email protected] Jung Kyung-soo Reporter