South Korea seeks earlier detection of teenage gambling problems
Illegal online gambling accounted for 57.7 per cent of gambling-related counselling and treatment cases among people aged 19 and under in 2025.
South Korea.- South Korea’s Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has discussed ways to improve early detection and treatment referrals for teenagers with gambling problems. The move follows a 40.9 per cent annual increase in the number of young people receiving gambling-related counselling or treatment in 2025.
Minister Won Min-kyung discussed the plans during a visit to the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Agency on October 20. Officials considered ways to improve counsellor training, speed up treatment referrals and strengthen coordination between youth support organisations.
Data provided by the National Gambling Control Commission showed that 5,838 people aged 19 and under received gambling-related counselling or treatment in 2025, up from the previous year. Illegal online gambling accounted for 57.7 per cent of the cases.
The ministry plans to strengthen its youth gambling gatekeeper training programme, which equips counsellors and frontline workers to recognise gambling-related problems and connect affected teenagers with professional support. The programme currently runs five sessions a year for 240 participants, with two specialist instructors assigned to each session.
Officials also discussed reducing administrative barriers between youth counselling and welfare centres and specialist gambling treatment providers, alongside support for a voluntary self-reporting system for teenagers involved in online gambling. The ministry wants to ensure that teenagers who need specialist care are referred to appropriate services without unnecessary delays.
South Korea already conducts annual media-use assessments among first-year middle school and high school students to identify those experiencing gambling-related difficulties. Teenagers identified as needing help can receive initial counselling through youth counselling and welfare centres before being referred to specialist treatment services.
However, figures released in September showed a gap between identifying at-risk teenagers and connecting them with specialist care. In 2025, 24,474 teenagers were classified as being at high risk of gambling problems, but only 1,235 were referred to the Korea Gambling Problem Prevention and Treatment Agency, according to data cited by lawmaker Lim Oh-kyeong.
The ministry said it would continue working with youth support organisations and specialist treatment providers to improve the process from early identification to professional care.
