"Rising Youth Gambling, Early Eradication Is Important"

Attorney Kim Dae-won of Daeryun Law Firm

According to a survey by the Korea Center on Gambling Problems, as of 2024, more than 4 out of every 100 Korean adolescents had experienced gambling, and more than 27 had seen or heard about a friend's gambling. Also, 54% had been exposed to gambling advertisements or related promotional materials.

According to National Police Agency statistics, the number of adolescents aged 14 to 18 arrested in Busan for gambling-related matters from 2022 through June 2024 was 21 in total.

Recently, a teenager who rode a stolen motorcycle without a license to repay cyber-gambling debts and stole cash from an unmanned store was caught by police.

In a telephone interview on the 21st, attorney Kim Dae-won of Daeryun Law Firm said, "Youth gambling carries a high risk of leading to a chain of crimes if not eradicated early," adding, "Efforts to prevent recidivism and appropriate legal responses when necessary are very important."

The following is a Q&A with attorney Kim.

-What is the problem with youth gambling?

"Due to the cyber environment, the number of adolescents arrested for gambling is increasing every year. Moreover, caution is needed because it can lead to other crimes such as theft, extortion, and coercion, or to school violence, in order to raise funds. Research shows that youth gambling is unrelated to gender, grade level, subjective standard of living, or average allowance, and that many first encounter it through introductions by friends or seniors."

-What punishment does one face?

"Under the Criminal Act, one is subject to a fine of up to 10 million won, and if habitual conduct is recognized, the punishment is strengthened to up to 3 years in prison or a fine of up to 20 million won. Internet sites such as Rohai, Sadari, Dalpaengi, and Social Graph, as well as casino games, clearly constitute illegal gambling. Being an adolescent does not exempt one from legal responsibility. Those aged 14 and older can be held criminally responsible."

-Are private sports Toto and the recently popular Hold'em pubs also subject to punishment?

"In our country, all gambling other than the seven designated types—such as the lottery, Kangwon Land, horse racing, and sports promotion betting tickets—is illegal. A Hold'em pub is also clearly illegal if chips won through the game are exchanged for cash or other forms of property, and an adolescent who uses it is likewise punished for the crime of gambling."

-What should one be legally mindful of when necessary?

"Investigative agencies tend to calculate the criminal amount as the total sum of deposits and withdrawals, so it is necessary to proactively submit a financial transaction analysis table to clarify the pure principal invested. Also, one should exercise the right to participate in the mobile phone digital forensics to establish the actual number of instances, so as to avoid a charge of habitual gambling."

Reporter Baek Jae-hyun (itbrian@newsis.com)

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