SINGAPORE — Consumers who purchased tickets from ticketing agent Sistic for the cancelled MBC Korean Music Wave concert will get a refund, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong told Parliament yesterday.

Sistic retains the revenues from ticket sales for most events until they are over, making exceptions only for event promoters with a proven track record, he said. “This practice allows Sistic to provide refunds should there be a cancellation,” added Mr Wong, noting that the private consortium operating the Sports Hub will adopt a similar practice when it opens in April.

Mr Wong was responding to a question raised by Mountbatten Member of Parliament Lim Biow Chuan, who asked whether the Government will consider regulating the organisation of concerts and other events to ensure that the ticket charges consumers pay will be secured when there is a cancellation of the concert or event.

The Korean concert was cancelled 10 days before it was scheduled to be held on Nov 16 last year, with organiser Fatfish Entertainment citing “contractual difficulties” with its co-producer, Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation. Billed as the biggest K-pop concert to be held in Singapore, the event charged S$168 to S$688 for tickets.

Mr Wong told Parliament yesterday there may not be a need to introduce new regulatory measures at this stage. Instead, the preferred approach is to raise consumer awareness, such as through the Consumers Association of Singapore, he added.

The purchase of tickets for concerts and other events is currently covered under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act, which allows consumers aggrieved by unfair practices to pursue civil action through the Small Claims Tribunal.

Mr Wong said five concerts were cancelled last year and most people who bought tickets had received refunds. AMANDA LEE