Korean students lend IDs for hefty fee, resell tickets to campus festivals

College festival season in South Korea has once again brought problems with ticket scalping and fake student access. Many university festivals feature popular K-pop performances, attracting fans from outside the schools. As a result, some students have been reselling tickets or lending student IDs online so outsiders can enter festivals meant only for students and alumni.

Online marketplaces and social media platforms have been filled with posts offering tickets, student IDs and admission tricks. Some sellers charged between 100,000 won and 500,000 won for access. Yonsei University was mentioned frequently because its famous “Akaraka with Alumni” festival was approaching. Although organizers introduced identity verification systems and ticket protections through KakaoTalk, sellers still found ways to bypass the rules.

Some sellers explained methods for avoiding detection, such as using borrowed phones, sharing paper wristbands or loosening wristbands so they could be removed and reused. In some cases, people even borrowed department jackets, mobile student IDs and accounts from Everytime, a Korean student community platform, to appear like real students during identification checks.

The problem has become so serious that some universities are taking stronger action. Ahead of a festival at Seoul National University featuring the K-pop group NCT WISH, the student council warned that students caught transferring IDs or helping outsiders could face punishments such as suspension or expulsion. Police officers were also expected to monitor the event.

Some students believe university festivals are changing too much because of celebrity culture and fandoms. Critics say the original purpose of campus festivals was for students and school communities to enjoy activities together. However, many actual students now struggle to get tickets or face inconvenience because of outsiders trying to attend K-pop performances.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source : https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/others/20260514/korean-students-sell-ids-scalped-tickets-to-see-k-pop-stars-at-campus-festivals

Comprehension

Why are many outsiders trying to attend Korean university festivals?
How are some people illegally entering the festivals?
What prices were mentioned for festival access?
What actions did Seoul National University warn students about?
Why are some students criticizing modern campus festivals?

Discussion

Why do K-pop performances attract so many fans to university festivals?
Do you think ticket scalping should be punished more strictly? Why or why not?
How can universities better prevent fake student access?
Is it fair for students to sell or lend their IDs to others?
How has celebrity culture changed school events?
Should university festivals be open to the public or limited to students?
What problems can happen when large crowds attend school festivals?
Have you ever experienced problems with ticket scalping or fake tickets?

Vocabulary

Scalping – reselling tickets at much higher prices
Admission – permission to enter a place or event
Verification – the process of checking if something is true or valid
Bypass – to avoid or go around rules or systems
Disciplinary action – punishment for breaking rules
Suspension – temporary removal from school or activities
Expulsion – permanent removal from school
Fandom – a group of enthusiastic fans supporting celebrities or artist