58 arrested in South Korea over fake Kangwon Land gambling site
Investigators say the group promoted the site through social media and used deepfake videos featuring the faces and voices of well-known athletes.
South Korea.- Police in South Korea have arrested 58 suspects over an online gambling operation that allegedly used Kangwon Land’s identity to attract domestic players. According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency’s cyber investigation unit, the platform attracted around 40,000 Korean users. It reportedly used Kangwon Land’s name and logo without permission and posted deepfake videos featuring the faces and voices of well-known athletes on social media in a bid to make the platform appear credible.
Most of the suspects were Russian nationals living in South Korea, while some were from Kazakhstan. Police said the group had account managers, recruiters and people responsible for obtaining bank accounts registered in other individuals’ names. The network reportedly rotated more than 70 borrowed-name accounts, changing them regularly to make it harder for investigators to trace the flow of money.
Police estimate that about KRW78bn (US$56m) in gambling funds moved through the operation between October 2022 and August 2025. Authorities have sought pre-indictment preservation of about KRW1.5bn (US$1m) in assets linked to suspected criminal proceeds.
Kangwon Land is the only casino in South Korea where local citizens are legally permitted to gamble. Police stressed that the operator does not run an online gambling platform. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the wider network and the users involved in the illegal operation.
