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| K-pop girl group BLACKPINK / Courtesy of YG Entertainment |
By Dong Sun-hwa
K-pop fans at home and abroad are complaining about surging concert ticket prices. The average price of K-pop concert tickets in Thailand is approximately 5,270 baht ($155.6), according to local media outlet MGR Online.
Concert tickets have risen by nearly 20 percent since 2019 before the pandemic and approximately 60 percent from 2013. MRG Online pointed out that the price today is excessively high, considering that the cheapest ticket was sold at 1,050 baht a decade ago. The most expensive one was reportedly 6,000 baht.
A VIP ticket costs 14,800 baht for K-pop girl group BLACKPINK's upcoming concerts at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok ― the largest stadium in Thailand ― on May 27-28.
Some Thai fans have even turned to the Consumer Protection Agency for help. Followers of K-pop boy group Stray Kids raised the issue last October, insisting that the tickets for the group's February concert were too pricey. The most expensive ticket was reportedly purchased at 8,500 baht.
However, the agency said the government could not control the prices. "As of now, we do not have any law to regulate the ticket prices for concerts," it said. "The price is set based on the consensus between sellers and consumers."
The situation in Korea is not so different.
The price of a VIP ticket costs more than 200,000 won ($151) for many K-pop concerts. "It is sad that we cannot participate in fan activities if we do not have money," a fan wrote.
The COVID-19 pandemic, among other factors, is known as a major contributor to price hikes. The global health crisis made it almost impossible for live concerts and performances to take place over the last few years, driving many affiliated companies and their employees to fall into debt and in some cases leave the entertainment industry. Although live shows have returned, their organizers say they now have to raise ticket prices to bring back their crews and produce quality performances as they did before.
In fact, the COVID-19 has also prompted an uptick in the ticket prices of many other shows in Korea. A number of musicals such as "West Side Story" caused a stir among fans for its high-priced tickets, when its production company announced its fourth run.
"The ticket price will continue to go up because fans are buying them anyway," a fan commented. "K-pop labels can raise the price as much as they want since there is more than enough demand."
