In a concerted effort to combat online gambling involving minors, South Korean police have apprehended over a thousand young individuals during operations conducted over the past six months.
The National Office of Investigation (NOI) reported that law enforcement officers detained a total of 2,925 individuals between September 2023 and March 2024, with 1,035 of them being teenagers suspected of engaging in gambling activities. Additionally, 75 adults were arrested in connection with the operations, and authorities seized approximately 61.9 billion won, equivalent to around $45 million, in illicit proceeds.
Of particular concern were the demographics of the apprehended minors, with 798 identified as high school students and an additional 228 as middle school students. Shockingly, two individuals under the age of 12 were among those caught by the police, underscoring the severity of the issue and the need for continued vigilance and enforcement efforts.
