A union representing workers at Jeju Dream Tower casino has urged authorities to inspect Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos over concerns they could be used to launder proceeds from telephone and online scams.
According to Korean outlet News N Jeju, the union issued a statement on October 2nd calling on the Jeju Provincial Police Agency to examine whether local casinos were being used to conceal criminal proceeds, launder money or conduct illegal currency exchanges.
It also asked the Jeju provincial government to coordinate checks of operators’ anti-money laundering (AML) and customer-management systems.
Jeju Today reported that the union also cited verbal abuse and threats against frontline employees. It argued that tourism and casino growth should be accompanied by stronger crime prevention and worker protection.
The union called on operators to put effective procedures in place to protect staff facing abuse, violence or threats.
It also requested cooperation and a formal meeting with the Chinese Consulate General in Jeju on crime prevention and Chinese visitors’ compliance with Korean law, while stressing that tourists should not be treated as potential criminals based on nationality.
The statement came after casino workers began a strike on September 28th over work and rest arrangements, pay and promotion policies. In a September 29th report, Korean broadcaster BBS cited Lotte Tour Development as saying the casino had operated normally on the first day of the walkout.
Separately, Jeju MBC reported on June 25th that employees alleged promotional chips were being sold to customers without the proceeds being recorded as casino revenue.
Dream Tower denied the revenue-understatement allegations and said it strictly managed promotional chips in accordance with applicable rules.
