South Korean Man Arrested for Defrauding Funds to Support Gambling Addiction
Man Detained for Cheating Acquaintances out of Gambling Money
In Busan, South Korea, police have arrested a man in his twenties suspected of deceiving 11 acquaintances, including a junior colleague from his military service, out of tens of millions of won. The funds were reportedly used to fuel his gambling habit.
Details of the Investigation and Arrest
The inquiry commenced in late August and led authorities to Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, where the man, referred to by the police as “A,” was taken into custody on the 10th. The suspect claimed he needed the money for his father9s medical treatments but instead spent it on gambling activities.
Reports indicate that after leaving military service, “A” failed to secure stable employment and increasingly relied on gambling. He initially used about 30 million KRW (roughly $20,500) saved during his military tenure, supplemented by an additional 40 million KRW (approximately $27,300) from his parents. Once those funds were exhausted, he began deceiving others to maintain his gambling.
Investigators revealed that “A” solicited money from former military juniors and old classmates, amassing approximately 42 million KRW (around $31,500) from 11 victims before the fraud came to light. Although the suspect admitted to borrowing the money, he has not provided a clear rationale for his deceit.
Currently, the police are evaluating evidence to determine the full financial impact on his victims, while prosecutors prepare to examine details of the case as it proceeds through the legal system.
Crackdown on Illegal Gambling Intensifies in South Korea
This arrest is among over 5,000 gambling-related apprehensions made by South Korean authorities in the past year alone. The government has been actively intensifying efforts to combat illegal gambling, predominantly targeting those involved in unauthorized betting and gambling activities.
Such enforcement actions respond to a sharp rise in illegal gambling cases nationwide. Data from the National Gambling Control Commission highlights an increase in reported illegal online gambling cases from 13,064 in 2019 to 39,082 in 2023, illustrating a threefold growth over four years.
While many incidents involve individual offenders, some cases are far more extensive, entailing massive sums of money. A notable example is a recent bust in which authorities arrested an illegal gambling syndicate accused of handling over 5.3 trillion KRW ($3.8 billion) through casino-affiliated online platforms operating from the Philippines.
