Seoul, South Korea – A surge in teenage gambling addiction is raising alarm in South Korea, with 4,144 adolescents receiving treatment in 2024 - more than tripling the 1,286 cases reported in 2020.Data released by Representative Cho Gye-won of the Democratic Party of Korea reveals a concerning trend, with cases steadily increasing year-over-year: 1,242 in 2021, 1,460 in 2022, and 2,093 in 2023.
the figures, provided by the Korea Problem Gambling Agency (KPGA), an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, also show the problem is affecting increasingly young people; nine elementary school children were among those treated this year.
A recent nationwide KPGA survey of 13,368 students from fourth grade through high school, conducted in March 2024, found that 4.3% reported having gambled. Notably, nearly 20% of those who had gambled indicated consistent participation over the past six months.
“Teenage gambling addiction is no longer the issue of delinquent individuals, but a social disaster that can led to crimes, unease within the community and even homes falling apart,” Representative Cho stated, urging the implementation of systematic anti-gambling education within the school system. This is the first state-level survey to address the issue, highlighting a growing recognition of the problem’s scope and potential impact.
