'Odyssey' Scalpers Charge 100,000 Won as CGV Imposes Four-Ticket Daily Limit

IMAX scalping prices soar as CGV takes drastic step to limit ticket purchases

Multiplex theater chain 'CGV' is taking direct action to stamp out the distorted scalping market surrounding director Christopher Nolan's blockbuster 'Odyssey'. The company has imposed strict limits on the number of tickets each person may book for the IMAX auditorium at 'CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall' in Seoul, where demand is strongest.

CGV announced through its official channels on the 27th that it would temporarily adjust ticket-purchase limits. "As demand for IMAX tickets has surged explosively in recent days, we are temporarily adjusting the number of tickets that may be booked to provide more viewers with a fair opportunity to see the film and maintain system stability," the company said.

Under the policy, IMAX-format films, including 'Odyssey', showing at the Yongsan I'Park Mall IMAX auditorium are limited to a maximum of four tickets per screening. The total daily booking limit is also set at four tickets, and the rule took immediate effect for all bookings made after the announcement.

Industry observers describe the move as a 'drastic step' aimed at blocking professional 'scalpers' who use bots and other automated programs to buy up tickets and resell them at inflated prices.

The power of the country’s only 1.43:1 screen: 'Yong-a IMAX' tickets sell for five times face value

The film 'Odyssey' drew the attention of movie fans worldwide even before its release after becoming the first film in history to be shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. The epic homecoming journey of Odysseus, played by 'Matt Damon', comes to life with overwhelming visual spectacle and sound, intensifying the rush for specialty theaters where audiences can experience it in full.

In particular, the IMAX auditorium at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall, widely known as 'Yong-a IMAX', is considered a 'holy grail' because it not only has the country's largest screen but is also the only venue in South Korea to support the original 1.43:1 aspect ratio, allowing viewers to watch the film without losing any of the camera original.

Because of that scarcity, market disruption reached an extreme on major secondhand trading platforms, where scalpers sold tickets for around '100,000 won' each, or more than five times face value. The Korean Film Council, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, is also operating a separate 'scalping report hotline' to protect moviegoers from harm.

Meanwhile, 'Odyssey', which hit theaters on the 5th, continued its box-office surge, surpassing cumulative attendance of about 7.656 million as of the previous day. That gives it the year's third-biggest box-office total, behind 'The Man Who Lives With the King' at 16.91 million and 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' at 8.26 million. IMAX viewers alone accounted for about 801,000, or 10.5%, demonstrating the explosive demand for premium auditoriums.

A CGV official said the company is "closely monitoring around the clock any efforts to secure tickets through abnormal channels and any resale for profit," adding, "We will take every available measure to provide moviegoers with a transparent and stable booking environment."