South Korea has recorded a significant increase in adolescent gambling addiction over the past three years.
Figures from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service show the number of adolescents receiving treatment for gambling addiction rose from 64 in 2022 to 210 in 2024.
Over the same period, medical costs grew from KRW110m ($79,400) to KRW430m.
Criminal activity linked to youth gambling also escalated. Data from the National Police Agency revealed gambling-related crimes involving minors increased from 76 in 2022 to 631 in 2024.
Arrests of children aged 10 to 13 rose from two cases to 72, while incidents tied to online casinos climbed from two to 93. Illegal sports betting cases more than doubled, from 36 to 109.
Counselling demand has increased in parallel. The Korea Problem Gambling Agency reported youth gambling counselling cases rose from 1,460 in 2022 to 4,144 in 2024.
In the first eight months of 2025 alone, more than 3,200 cases have already been recorded.
Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-seok has urged stronger prevention and treatment measures, criticising the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Integrated Support Center for Addiction Management for focusing primarily on alcohol dependency rather than gambling.
Seo argued that gambling should be recognised as a social addiction requiring additional facilities, expanded counselling staff and enhanced school-based prevention programs.
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