Singer and actress IU, also known as Lee Ji Eun, is in the midst of a controversy. Fans are upset over allegations of concert ticket fraud. One fan, known as Blogger A, managed to score tickets for IU‘s ‘H.E.R.’ World Tour 2024 at KSPO DOME.
However, because a friend paid for the tickets on Blogger A‘s behalf, it was flagged as an illegal transaction. Blogger A provided several documents to prove innocence and received a confirmation message from Melon Ticket, allowing attendance at the concert.
On the day of the concert, though, things went south. Despite verifying identity once again, Blogger A was unable to receive the ticket at the booth. To make matters worse, Blogger A was permanently banned from IU‘s official fan club ‘UAENA‘ due to issues with additional verification.
In response to the incident, IU‘s agency, EDAM Entertainment, issued an apology. They acknowledged their responsibility and expressed regret for any discomfort caused to Blogger A. They promised to work towards a resolution and to handle the situation amicably.
However, the controversy didn’t end there. EDAM Entertainment claimed that Blogger A‘s seat was not resold, and no staff or on-site personnel gave it to anyone they knew. They even kept the original printout of the actual ticket. But, evidence emerged showing that someone was sitting in Blogger A‘s supposedly empty seat, intensifying the criticism against EDAM Entertainment.
When StarNews asked for clarification, EDAM Entertainment explained that they had reviewed footage from the concert and confirmed that the seat was empty at the beginning of the concert. However, someone was seen sitting there later on. They speculated that an audience member might have taken the empty seat after returning from the restroom, a behavior they referred to as ‘grasshopping‘.
When asked why they couldn’t disclose Blogger A‘s actual ticket for verification, EDAM Entertainment explained that the ticket was held by Melon Ticket. They also expressed concern about causing further harm to Blogger A, as there had been some negative comments on Blogger A‘s blog following their official statement.
While it’s not clear what Blogger A wants or needs, one thing is certain: disclosing the actual ticket might help clear Blogger A‘s name. EDAM Entertainment is currently coordinating with Blogger A, Melon Ticket, and the performance team to reach an agreement. They plan to attend a meeting with the Korea Consumer Agency, but they haven’t asked Blogger A about attendance to avoid putting pressure.
The mystery remains unsolved. If EDAM Entertainment has footage of the concert, they should be able to identify who moved to Blogger A‘s seat. However, they stated that they could only confirm general movements, like whether someone was in their seat or not. They also mentioned that they’re considering what kind of compensation would be appropriate for Blogger A.
Lastly, EDAM Entertainment revealed that Blogger A‘s permanent ban from ‘UAENA‘ has not been lifted yet. They explained that they need to discuss this matter collectively as there are other similar cases. Therefore, they haven’t taken immediate action to lift the ban.
Source[1]
