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Lee HyeRi’s Korean fans are frustrated after failing to get tickets for her upcoming fan meeting in Seoul, blaming the alleged usage of ticket bots by foreign fans. They raised their concerns on social media sites like X (formerly Twitter) and The Quoo, saying that the use of bots during ticket selling is becoming serious and calling on agencies to make concerts and fan meetings in Korea exclusive to Korean fans only.
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The incident has sparked again an online discussion between foreign and Korean fans about who should be the only ones able to attend concerts and fan meetings in Korea. Since Korean artists are now having world tours, should foreign fans attend concerts in their countries instead of traveling to Korea? Foreign fans argue that the ticket vendors should enhance their bot management solutions.
Netizens Claim "Zero Korean Fans" Got Tickets For Lee HyeRi’s Fan Meeting In Seoul
HyeRi's Instagram
Ticket sales for the 2025 HYERI FAN MEETING TOUR IN SEOUL "Welcome to HYERI’s STUDIO" opened on April 15. But many Korean fans claimed that Chinese ticket bots purchased all 1,400 seats of ECC SAMSUNG Hall, and tickets were sold out as soon as they went on sale. Some suspect the bots hacked the website before the ticket sale even started, which further angered fans.
한국에서 열리는 팬미팅이고, 한국 사이트에서 진행된 티켓팅인데 한국인은 제대로 접속도 못 했고, 표를 구한 팬은 아무도 없었습니다.
대부분 중국 판매 업체라지만, 일반 팬의 글도 많이 봤어요. 한국 팬들은 시도조차 못 했는데, 중국에서만 성공했다는 건 명백한 편법입니다.
소속사에서 이…— 쟝이 (@6yeji_) April 15, 2025
A fan claimed that no one in HyeRi DC Gallery, a long-time fan community that supports HyeRi, was able to purchase a ticket.
"Not a single fan from DC Gallery, which has been supporting her consistently for years, was able to get tickets. The issue with Chinese scalpers during ticketing lately seems grave," the fan wrote.
Photo from The Quoo User
On The Quoo, a fan also shared photos of tables allegedly showing which seats were bought through ticket bots. Green seats were marked as sold, and orange as reserved. The table showed ticket details such as date, quantity, type, row, and seat number—indicating that tickets may have been bought by bots and then resold to Chinese fans.
HyeRi's Korean fans are concerned that if only Chinese fans are attending the event, how can HyeRi be supposed to communicate with them? Since it is a fan meeting event, the artist is expected to interact with fans.
Due to frustration, many Korean fans are calling for Korean-only concerts in Korea. They suggest that agencies should allow only Korean residents to buy tickets, blocking foreign IP addresses and requiring Korean bank-only payments. Some also suggested adopting Japan’s lottery system for ticketing.
Current Bot Prevention Is Not Enough
Getty Images
International fans are also upset about ticket bots but disagree with the idea of banning them to watch concerts and fan meetings in Korea. They argue that international fans, especially from the countries not included in world tours, should still be allowed to attend events in Korea. Instead, they believe ticket vendors need stronger systems to block bots and that a strict 1:1 ticket rule should be enforced.
How To Report Scalpers
HyeRi's official Instagram page said that they had detected suspicious reservations made through malicious channels and are currently investigating the issue. Prior to that, they posted a notice on how to report illegal ticket sales. To report illegal ticket sales, the complainant must submit at least two of the following: the booking number, the name used to book, or the mobile number. Additional info like seat number or booking email is also helpful.
The complainant must also send a screenshot of the illegal transaction (an example is an online post or message) and the URL of the illegal transaction or post. All reports should be sent through email at [email protected].
The post also reminded fans that the ticket is only sold through Ticketlink and encouraged them not to support buying from resellers. The organizer also said they are closely monitoring illegal trading activities.
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