South Korea investigates officials related to casinos

South Korean authorities raid the offices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

South Korea.- The offices of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have faced raids in the last few weeks following allegations “of the illicit hiring of staff at the nation’s Kangwon Land Casino,” as reported by local authorities. The government is considering a national investigation on the case related to casino activities.

“The action in Sejong City was carried out by a special unit of the Supreme Prosecutors Office and followed accusations that a former senior tourism official only referred to by his surname of ‘Kim’ may have illegally granted Kangwon Land Casino permission to expand in exchange for jobs inside the nation’s largest casino for four members of his family,” states the official’s report published by The Korea Times newspaper.

Kangwon Land casino in South Korea could also be affected by a new resolution that would reduce the operating hours of gaming salons. According to local press, the decision was made in order to “help the embattled operation stay in the government’s good books.” Kangwon Land is the only gaming salon where South Korean citizens can legally participate.

Furthermore, the South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has demanded Kangwon Land’s operators reduce the hours that the facility is opened to the public, after the press released a report noting that the controversial casino was involved in a case of corruption that was revealed last year.