Police in Jeju have dismantled an illegal online gambling network that generated over KRW 22bn (US$15.3m) in betting turnover, following a series of raids on converted PC cafes and villas across the island.
The operation targeted both teenagers and seafarers, according to The Korea JoongAng Daily.
The Jeju Provincial Police Agency confirmed 21 people were arrested, including a man in his 40s identified as the ringleader. Six suspects were referred to prosecutors while 15 others were booked without detention. Police also caught 39 individuals connected to the sites, including habitual gamblers and minors.
Between October 2024 and July 2025, the ringleader and his associates allegedly ran two PC cafes and a villa in Jeju City as gambling venues. Officers said the group also provided loans to students at interest rates reaching 650%. Five teenagers were detained, including one who borrowed KRW 11m to gamble.
A separate group reportedly ran a gambling den near Hallim Port from June 2024 to February 2025, focusing on seafarers. Two other suspects operated similar facilities in Seogwipo, using luxury handbags as loan collateral.
A police spokesperson said the crackdown will continue as part of a wider campaign to combat cross-border gambling. "We will maintain a strict stance and ensure that both operators and participants face legal consequences," the official stated.
Investigations into high-stakes gamblers and links to international crime groups remain ongoing as authorities aim to recover further illegal proceeds.
Authorities seized KRW 250m in criminal proceeds. They believe the mastermind behind the wider network may be operating from Vietnam or another Southeast Asian country
