South Korean Youth Gambling Reports Surge 74% in Second Month of Voluntary Scheme
2026-07-20
South Korean police received 806 voluntary reports of youth cyber gambling in two months, with cases rising 74% month-on-month and average losses of KRW 3 million, prompting referrals to addiction treatment and debt support.
South Korea’s National Police Agency (NPA) has received 806 voluntary reports of youth cyber gambling during the first two months of a nationwide reporting initiative that began on May 18, averaging 14 cases per day. Of those reports, 629 (78%) were self-submitted by the young gamblers themselves, while 177 came from parents or guardians.
Report Volume and Demographics
The number of voluntary reports jumped 74% in the second month (512 cases) compared to the first month (294). Police attributed this increase to heightened awareness driven by School Police Officers (SPOs) and media coverage of the hidden scale of the problem. High school students accounted for 455 cases (56%) and middle school students for 351 cases (44%).
Financial Harm and Specific Cases
The average reported gambling spend among youths was KRW 3 million (approx. US$2,200), with some individuals losing up to KRW 70 million. Several cases highlighted extreme debt and theft: - An 18-year-old in Hwaseong borrowed KRW 5 million from about ten loan sharks at a 200% interest rate and reported coercive collection methods. - A 14-year-old in Busan, discovered by an SPO after a teacher flagged suspicious transactions, had borrowed KRW 2 million from 41 classmates and deposited KRW 26 million total on gambling sites. - A 13-year-old in Daegu, already booked for multiple thefts, had gambled KRW 6.5 million since elementary school to fund pocket money. - A 14-year-old in Mungyeong secretly withdrew KRW 30 million from his father’s bank account in dozens of transactions for gambling.
Intervention and Follow-Up
Rather than focusing solely on enforcement, the NPA connects voluntary reporters with gambling prevention centers, psychiatric addiction treatment programs, and debt adjustment support. Each case is reviewed by a police station committee that considers the youth’s reflection, recovery progress, and the amount involved before deciding on a disposition. SPOs and counselors from the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center provide ongoing follow-up management.
The voluntary reporting system remains open until the end of August. It accepts submissions from youths under 19 or their guardians through the 117 School Violence Report and Counseling Center.