Latest news with #KwonJi-yong
HKFP
3 days ago
- HKFP
Fans of K-pop star G-Dragon scammed out of HK$610k in fake tickets for Hong Kong concerts
Fans of South Korean pop star Kwon Ji-yong, also known as G-Dragon, were scammed out of more than HK$610,000 worth of fake tickets to his sold-out Hong Kong concerts, police said. Since mid-July, police have received over 200 reports of suspected ticket scams, with nearly 30 cases linked to G-Dragon's world tour stop in the city this week, according to a Facebook post by CyberDefender, a unit under the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Bureau. While police did not disclose the total number of victims, the force said one woman paid HK$8,000 for two scalped tickets – originally priced at HK$2,399 each. The seller later demanded more money to 'secure the tickets,' and the woman eventually paid more than HK$180,000 in three transactions. The seller then became unreachable. 'As a concert approaches, social media will inevitably be flooded with suspicious ticket posts – including scalped tickets, fake tickets or no tickets at all,' the Facebook post in Chinese warned. 'Before making any payment, check the seller's background. Search their phone number, bank account number, and page name, and look out for negative reviews.' Local media reported that the police handled more than 800 ticket scam cases last month, involving concert tickets, theme park tickets, flight tickets, various ball game tickets and tickets for meet and greet with celebrities. The total loss amounted to more than HK$4 million. In June, eight people were arrested for allegedly selling high-quality counterfeit tickets to concerts of Cantopop singer Nicholas Tse, Taiwanese singer Jay Chou, and four other artists. The eight suspects were part of a cross-border syndicate involved in at least 40 suspected scams, according to local media. The total loss stood at around HK$650,000. Police said at the time that the syndicate had a clear division of labour, with the mastermind using different social media platforms to post advertisements or photos of tickets with average resolution. They would also cover part of the ticket's front to make it difficult for the public to verify its authenticity. Printing factories were used to mass-produce the fake tickets, while the syndicate would recruit people to meet the buyers in person to complete the transactions. The scammers would also present forged QR codes and doctored screenshots of fake official purchase records to win the trust of buyers.
New Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: G-Dragon appointed as APEC Summit ambassador
SEOUL: South Korean superstar G-Dragon has been officially appointed as an honorary ambassador for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which is set to take place in Gyeongju this October. G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, 36, shared the news on his social media, expressing immense pride in the achievement. "I was appointed as an ambassador to the APEC Summit 2025. It is an honour to be a part of APEC Korea. Thank you, Wicem," he posted. The prestigious appointment was also announced today by South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on his official Facebook page. As the head of the summit's preparatory committee, he conveyed his enthusiasm for the music icon's involvement in promoting the international event. He described G-Dragon as a uniquely prominent South Korean artiste who has consistently demonstrated exceptional creativity and innovation throughout his career. This innovative spirit, he noted, aligns perfectly with APEC's goals. "With 100 days to go before this summit takes place, let us witness the synergy between G-Dragon and the APEC Summit," he wrote. The APEC Summit is an annual event that brings together leaders from 21 member economies in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss economic issues and foster regional cooperation. This year, the landmark event will be hosted by the historic city of Gyeongju on Oct 31. G-Dragon's appointment is viewed as a strategic move to leverage South Korea's global pop culture influence, aiming to boost public awareness and interest in the significance of the APEC Summit.
New Straits Times
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#NSTviral: Malaysian fans frustrated by G-Dragon concert pre-sale glitches, claims of ticket scalping
KUALA LUMPUR: The much-anticipated ticket pre-sale for South Korean rapper G-Dragon's "Übermensch" concert in Kuala Lumpur has left many local fans disappointed and frustrated following technical glitches and allegations of ticket scalping. Pre-sale tickets for the two-day concert went live yesterday from 4pm to midnight, with a second round of pre-sales for Hong Leong Bank cardholders scheduled for 3pm today. However, fans reported multiple issues on the ticketing platform, including website crashes and allegations of overseas buyers dominating purchases. A check on social media platform X under the hashtag #GDRAGONinKL revealed widespread dissatisfaction, with numerous fans alleging that foreign bots had bypassed the ticketing system, blocking Malaysian IP addresses in the process. One fan even took to Instagram to voice concerns directly to G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, claiming that the majority of the pre-sale tickets were secured by non-Malaysian buyers. The fan accused the organiser of failing to implement adequate safeguards to prevent mass ticket purchases by bots. "It's shocking and deeply disappointing. How can something like this happen? These were not sold by fair means," the fan wrote, while urging the organiser to investigate. "We, the Malaysian fans, demand full transparency and a thorough investigation into the G-Dragon Kuala Lumpur membership pre-sale, including who secured the tickets and how many were allocated to Malaysian fans. We are disappointed with the event," wrote user @t_o_p_class. Another check on the hashtag at around 7pm showed users promoting resale of the concert tickets, with some offering between two and nine tickets each. Adding to fans' frustration were reports of both local and foreign scalpers offering the tickets for resale online—some at face value, others at inflated prices. Screenshots shared on X showed tickets being listed on secondary marketplaces, with sellers claiming to offer discounted rates. Despite the temptation, many fans have urged others to avoid unauthorised resellers, citing past incidents of scams involving fake tickets and invalid entries. As of press time, the organiser has yet to issue an official statement addressing the ticketing concerns. G-Dragon's "Übermensch" concert is set to take place in Kuala Lumpur this July.
