South Korea’s Prime Minister calls for stronger action on youth gambling

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has urged South Korea’s gambling regulator to strengthen prevention measures and build a broader safety net for young people as concerns grow over youth exposure to illegal and digital gambling.

South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has called for a tougher and more coordinated response to youth gambling problems, warning that the issue has been worsening and requires stronger prevention efforts. His remarks were delivered during an event connected to the appointment of civilian members of the National Gambling Control Commission.

Kim urged the newly appointed members to focus on effective prevention and said the country needs a comprehensive safety net to support the healthy development of young people. He also described the commission as a “guardian” that should help prevent society from falling into the harms associated with gambling, while still allowing the legal gambling sector to develop in a responsible way.

The comments come shortly after South Korea launched the seventh term of its National Gambling Control Commission. Choi Byung-hwan was appointed as the regulator’s new chairman, while 11 civilian members were commissioned by the Prime Minister for a three-year term running until April 2029. The new commission includes experts in areas such as addiction prevention, treatment, law, IT and public communication.

Youth gambling has become a growing policy concern in South Korea as illegal online platforms and digital betting channels become easier to access. The National Gambling Control Commission’s official framework already defines responsible gambling policy as a tool to reduce gambling addiction, address social harm and eliminate illegal gambling practices.

The regulator’s mandate also covers the creation and implementation of comprehensive plans for the integrated management and supervision of the gambling industry, as well as the eradication of illegal gambling businesses. This gives the commission a central role not only in overseeing legal operators, but also in coordinating broader responses to harmful and unlawful gambling activity.

Choi Byung-hwan has also pledged to strengthen user protection. In his inaugural address, he said the commission would work to build a system that protects citizens from the negative effects of gambling while supporting the healthy development of the sector.

For South Korea, the latest remarks signal that youth gambling will remain one of the top priorities for gambling policy. The challenge for regulators will be to combine enforcement against illegal operators with early prevention, education, counselling and digital monitoring. If the new commission follows through on this approach, South Korea could move toward a more preventive model of gambling regulation, with young people placed at the centre of consumer protection policy.