South Korean authorities have dismantled a large-scale illegal gambling network on Jeju Island that used converted PC cafes and villas to host online betting operations targeting teenagers and seafarers.
The network handled more than KRW22 billion ($15.3 million) in wagers, according to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency. Police said 21 people were arrested in connection with the scheme, including a man in his 40s identified as the ringleader.
Six suspects, including the alleged mastermind, have been formally charged and referred to prosecutors, while 15 others were released without detention. An additional 39 individuals, including habitual gamblers and minors, were also caught during the crackdown.
Investigators revealed that between October 2024 and July 2025, the ringleader and 12 accomplices converted two PC cafes and a villa in Jeju City – some located near local schools – into illegal gambling dens.
The group also ran a small-scale lending operation, offering loans to high school students at interest rates as high as 650 percent. One teenage participant reportedly borrowed KRW11 million ($7,600) to fund gambling activity.
Authorities estimate that the three gambling sites operated by the main group generated around KRW9.2 billion ($6.4 million) in total wagers. Police have confiscated KRW250 million ($174,000) in proceeds believed to be directly tied to the illegal network.
Additional investigations uncovered several related gambling rings operating across Jeju Island. One group allegedly ran a betting den near Hallim Port between June 2024 and February 2025, targeting seafarers, while another used PC cafes and villas as fronts for gambling activity, accepting luxury handbags as collateral for high-interest loans.
A separate team in Seogwipo is accused of operating similar setups over an eight-month period beginning in mid-2023.
Authorities suspect that the broader online network’s mastermind may be based in Vietnam or another Southeast Asian country, overseeing a transnational operation with links to habitual high-stakes gamblers in South Korea. Investigations into these financial connections are ongoing.
“The crackdown on illegal gambling sites is continuous, and we will take a strict stance, especially given the risks to teenagers,” a Jeju police official said in a statement. “We will pursue not only the operators and distributors but also ensure the full recovery of illegal profits.”
Police also cautioned that individuals who lend their bank accounts or transfer funds on behalf of others may be charged with aiding money laundering, urging the public to remain vigilant.
