South Korean Minors Drowning in Debt from Online Gambling; Reported Cases Surge 74%

A growing trend of online gambling among minors is raising alarm in South Korea, with a significant increase in reported cases. The National Police Agency's "Youth Online Gambling Voluntary Reporting System," launched on May 18th, has seen a dramatic rise in participation. In its first month, the system received 294 reports, but this number surged to 512 in the second month, marking a 74% increase.

The system allows individuals under 19, or their guardians, to report cases of online gambling. Of the 806 cases reported so far, 629 were self-reported by minors, while 177 were reported by guardians. The police, in collaboration with schools and gambling addiction counselors, are providing assistance and offering leniency to those who come forward.

Disturbing individual cases highlight the severity of the problem. In Gyeonggi Province, an 18-year-old borrowed 5 million won (approximately NT$110,000) at a staggering 200% interest rate to gamble, only reporting after receiving death threats. A 14-year-old middle school student in Busan became addicted to online gambling, borrowing a total of 2 million won (approximately NT$43,000) from 41 classmates. Another case involved a 13-year-old boy in Daegu who had been gambling since the sixth grade, investing 6.5 million won (approximately NT$142,000).

In a particularly alarming instance, a 14-year-old in Gyeongsangbuk-do repeatedly withdrew money from his father's bank account without permission, gambling away a total of 30 million won (approximately NT$654,000). These cases illustrate the extreme measures minors are resorting to, including high-interest loans and theft, to feed their online gambling habits, often leading to significant debt and personal danger.