Business leaders join Seoul police youth anti-gambling drive
South Korea’s broader push against illegal online gambling has gained another corporate participant, as business leaders continue to join a Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency campaign focused on preventing youth involvement in cyber gambling.
Yun Woong-seop, chairman of Ildong Pharmaceutical, has joined the “Youth Cyber Illegal Gambling Eradication Campaign”, a relay initiative organised by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to highlight the dangers of illegal online gambling and prevent the spread of related crimes among young people.
The campaign operates through a nomination system in which participants from business, academia and other sectors deliver public messages before nominating the next participant. It promotes the slogan, “Illegal cyber gambling targeting youths is a crime you can never beat,” describing illegal gambling as a form of fraud structured to prevent ordinary participants from making profits.
Yun joined the campaign after being nominated by Jeon Chan-min, chief executive of Pharmcle and president of the Korea Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation. Jeon had previously taken part in the initiative after being nominated by Welcron Group chairman Lee Young-kyu.
In comments released by Ildong Pharmaceutical, Yun said illegal cyber gambling was “a very serious crime that can upend daily life and values” and called for broader social participation in prevention efforts aimed at protecting young people.
Youth gambling remains a growing concern
The campaign comes as South Korean authorities continue to place greater emphasis on preventing youth gambling and addressing illegal gambling activity.
In May, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged the National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC) to strengthen measures addressing youth gambling addiction and expand safeguards designed to protect children and young adults.
During the swearing-in ceremony for new NGCC members, Kim said, “The problem of youth gambling has become serious of late,” and called for greater efforts in prevention and the establishment of a comprehensive safety net.
Figures cited by South Korean authorities showed that 4 per cent of young people had engaged in illegal gambling activities. Separate police records showed gambling-related cases involving minors increasing from 478 in 2024 to 777 in 2025.
Regulatory focus on consumer protection
Earlier in April, the National Gambling Control Commission began its seventh term under newly appointed chairman Choi Byung-hwan. In his inaugural address, Choi said the commission would work to establish a user protection system aimed at safeguarding citizens from the side effects of gambling while supporting the healthy development of the sector.
The commission’s new membership includes experts in addiction prevention, healthcare, law, information technology and public policy, reflecting an increased focus on tackling gambling-related harm and illegal gambling activities.
Legal gambling options for South Korean residents are limited to government-approved lotteries, regulated sports betting products and Kangwon Land, the country’s only casino authorised to admit local players. Online casino gambling is not permitted.
Enforcement pressure on illegal operators
South Korean authorities have also taken action against illegal gambling operations, payment gateway companies and financial channels linked to unlawful gambling activity.
Data from the Blask Index, a market intelligence platform that tracks user interest and estimated revenue across gambling brands, showed South Korean iGaming demand falling from 1.12 million in October 2025 to 703,700 in April 2026, a decline of 37 per cent over six months. During the same period, South Korean authorities announced a series of measures targeting illegal gambling operators, payment processors and offshore betting networks.
This year, South Korean authorities introduced faster website-blocking measures targeting illegal gambling platforms, announced action against a Cambodia-based gambling network and proposed legislative changes that would allow suspicious gambling-linked accounts to be suspended more quickly.
Recent estimates cited by South Korean authorities valued the illegal gambling market at 96 trillion won (US$65 billion).
Against that backdrop, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s youth campaign represents another element of a broader national effort combining public awareness, consumer protection measures and enforcement action to curb illegal gambling and reduce its impact on younger generations.
Yun has nominated Cho Jin-hwan, president of the Korean Movement Disorder Society and a neurology professor at Samsung Medical Center, as the next participant in the relay campaign.
Not every journey changes your business, but this one will. From 30 Nov to 02 Dec 2026, SiGMA South Asia lands in Colombo, bringing together 3,500+ delegates and 150 exhibitors. The room is waiting.
