Jeju Casino Workers Demand Public Oversight, Citing 'Tradable Asset' Status of Business Rights

Casino workers in Jeju are calling for stricter public management and an end to the unfettered expansion of casino business rights, citing concerns over labor conditions and the industry's societal impact. The Tourism and Leisure Industry Labor Union held a press conference to voice their demands.

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The fatigue of on-site workers has already reached its limit. For the sustainability of Jeju's casino industry, a table quota system is needed, along with mandatory labor environment and employment impact assessments for expansions.

The union highlighted that while some smaller casinos are barely maintaining minimum operations, larger establishments, especially the Dream Tower casino which accounts for about 80% of Jeju's total foreign-only casino revenue, are continuously increasing their number of gaming tables. This expansion, they argue, leads to an unbearable increase in workload for 현장 노동자 (on-site workers).

To address this, the union proposed the introduction of a "table quota system" that would set limits on the minimum and maximum number of tables allowed. They also called for mandatory labor environment and employment impact assessments whenever a casino seeks to expand its operations. The union stressed that the current situation is pushing workers to their limits and jeopardizing the long-term sustainability of Jeju's casino industry.

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In Jeju, casino business rights are treated as virtually tradable assets. In the process of acquiring small licenses and then expanding, or through repeated transfers, workers at small businesses suffer extreme hardship due to unpaid wages and social insurance arrears.

Furthermore, the workers urged a complete re-evaluation of the system that allows casino business rights to be transferred. They contend that these rights are treated as virtually tradable assets, leading to situations where workers at smaller, struggling establishments face severe hardships, including unpaid wages and unfulfilled social insurance contributions, due to repeated transfers and expansions. The union also raised suspicions about the potential cash conversion of "promotion chips" (bonus chips given to customers) and called for an investigation into their distribution and use.

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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism repeatedly states that 'Jeju casinos are under Jeju Province's management authority.' However, the casino industry is highly specialized and has strong public interest. It is a high-risk industry that can lead to large-scale financial accidents and social problems if management is even slightly lax. The central government must not shirk its responsibility any longer.