Korea: President demands evidence-based reporting on gambling-related harm

President Lee Jaemyung has directed government agencies to gather and verify accurate statistics on gambling addiction after expressing dissatisfaction with responses given during a work briefing at the Sejong Convention Center. According to The Asia Business Daily, he questioned whether current data is strong enough to guide national policy on gambling-related harm.

In a direct exchange with Kangwon Land's acting CEO, President Lee referenced media reports suggesting that visitors were losing large sums and lingering around the resort in distress. When the CEO said gambling-addiction trends had improved, President Lee challenged the assertion and asked for concrete data, not general impressions. The CEO admitted he did not have the specific figures available.

President Lee then ordered the presidential office to review the issue and report back, emphasizing the need to determine whether gambling-related harm is rising or decreasing and what interventions may be necessary. He reiterated that addiction-prevention facilities alone are inadequate without statistically grounded evaluation.

He also warned of broader social consequences, describing predatory lending and gambling fueled by unrealistic expectations as troubling indicators of social decline. These concerns reflect the administration's focus on consumer protection and the risks associated with high-stakes gambling environments.

The discussion also touched on Kangwon Land's proposed expansion under a global resort project. President Lee questioned employment projections and regulatory constraints, noting that casino-linked ventures carry inherent risks and must be carefully assessed before approval. He said regulatory easing cannot be justified without a solid, evidence-based business case and urged the company to present data-driven proposals.

The President's remarks indicate a more assertive stance on monitoring gambling-related harm and ensuring ministries take a data-driven approach to policymaking, underscoring growing expectations for transparency and accountability across the gambling sector.