[Poisonous Mushroom Adult Game] ① Spending One Month's Living Expenses in a Day... Jongno Illegal Game Centers Sucking Money from Basic Livelihood Security Recipients

Elderly Lining Up at Game Centers on Basic Livelihood Benefit Day
Some Running 10 Machines at Once... Nonstop Game Machines
Cash Conversion Through 'Ttakji Dealers'... Neglected Game Centers
"Harmful Effects of Gambling Games... Thorough Crackdown Needed"

On the 20th of last month, in front of Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, elderly people began gathering in front of a certain building even before 9 a.m. The place they were lingering around was in front of 'J Game Land.' J Game Land is an adult game center where players insert money and can earn game points based on certain probabilities. Just before 9 a.m., as the doors opened, the elderly rushed into J Game Land. The reporter followed them inside. Staff members started walking around the venue turning on the game machines. About 30 elderly people were carefully inspecting the game machines as if checking compatibility without inserting any money. That day was unusually crowded at the adult game center because the 20th of every month is when basic living allowance payments are issued. Kim Young-tae (61, male), who came to play games, said, "On the 20th, the adult game centers near Tapgol Park are packed with basic living allowance recipients," adding, "People addicted to the thrill of hitting high scores often don't realize their little money is disappearing."

On the 20th, an elderly man was operating multiple game machines at once in an adult game room located near Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The games do not require any operation, and the scores can be exchanged for cash, making them essentially gambling games.
/Photo by Gong Byung-sun mydillon@

"Alright! It's 9 o'clock. Let's start." "Click!" As soon as it hit 9 a.m., about 30 elderly people sitting in front of the game machines pressed the buttons simultaneously at the staff's command. The game for the day began. The game requires no special operation. When the button is pressed, a dragon appears and sequentially breaks eggs. From the eggs come playing cards decorated with four-leaf clovers and hearts, filling 4 out of 5 slots first. The cards in the 4 slots match. But the game really starts now. To hit the so-called 'jackpot,' the card in the 5th slot must match the other 4 cards. However, no matter how many eggs the dragon breaks, that particular card never appears. After staring at the screen like this, a 6-minute game round costing 1,000 won ends.

At 9:34 a.m., the first jackpot of the day was hit. The person sitting in the jackpot seat shouted "I got it!" and raised their hands in celebration, drawing a crowd. Hitting a jackpot does not fix the score. From that point, scores can consecutively increase, reaching 300,000 points or even over 700,000 points. The elderly who frequent this place say they have their own strategies. One elderly man, enviously watching the jackpot, suddenly said, "My lucky seat is number 66. I once scored 740,000 points here in a day," then returned his focus to the game.

Some elderly people were busy running around the game center. This is because they were using more than 10 game machines at once. When the game on the machine at the end of the line finished, they would run over and press the button. Thanks to them, the 110 game machines at J Game Land run continuously, according to a staff member. Some people spend nearly 1 million won a day at the adult game center. As of this year, the basic living allowance is about 950,000 won, so they essentially put all their money into the game machines in one day. Those seriously addicted even sell the 10 kg of rice they receive as basic living allowance for 10,000 won to spend on games. Jeong (73, male), who introduced himself as 'Canada Jeong,' said, "There are always about 20 people in the adult game center. Sometimes one person operates more than 10 game machines," adding, "Where else can elderly people go? They just wait for jackpots under the cool air conditioning."

Some Spend Their Allowance Entirely on Games... Adult Game Centers Clustered Around Tapgol Park

Near Tapgol Park, there are four adult game centers including J Game Land, N Game Land, P Game Land, and G Game Land. J Game Land and P Game Land are located in the same building’s semi-basement, and the other adult game centers are less than a 5-minute walk away. According to Jongno District Office, J Game Land and N Game Land are operated by the same individual. P Game Land and G Game Land are run by different operators, but the operators of J Game Land and P Game Land are known to be business partners. Essentially, one person managing J Game Land controls three of the four businesses.

J Game Land and P Game Land, located in the same building’s semi-basement, reportedly pay 10 million won each per month in rent to the building owner. Both adult game centers are situated along Songhae-gil, the largest road near Tapgol Park. Additionally, they are only a 3-minute walk from Jongno 3-ga Station, located at the entrance of Songhae-gil. N Game Land and G Game Land also operate along Songhae-gil, presumably paying high rents. Jeong (70, male), who manages real estate near Tapgol Park, said, "There is no place here that values property as highly as along Songhae-gil. It’s because it’s easily visible and business does well," adding, "It’s unfortunate that the first thing you see when entering Songhae-gil is an adult game center."

"No Cash Exchange," But... 'Ttakji Dealers' in Gray Vests Buy and Sell Points

Staff at the adult game centers were very wary of the unfamiliar reporter. As soon as the reporter entered J Game Land, a staff member approached, scanning from head to toe, and asked, "Is this your first time here? Do you know how to play the game?" When the reporter said no, the staff explained, "This is a game center where cash exchange is not possible. Please keep that in mind." At N Game Land, one must be acquainted with the owner to enter. When the reporter sat in front of a game machine, a staff member stayed nearby and said, "First-timers cannot play the game."

But is there really no cash exchange as the staff claimed? Although each venue hangs banners stating "Buying and selling points between members is prohibited," in reality, game points can be converted into cash. This is because each adult game center has 'ttakji dealers.' Ttakji refers to 10,000 points, which can be sold to a dealer for 7,000 won. The dealers then sell these ttakji to players for 7,500 won, making a 500 won profit. Players who hit jackpots and earn 500,000 points can quickly make about 300,000 to 400,000 won.

Players here also prefer to buy ttakji rather than inserting cash directly into the machines. They can play using accumulated points instead of cash. Playing for an hour with cash costs 10,000 won, but buying 10,000 points as ttakji costs only 7,500 won, saving 2,500 won. Those who put cash directly into the machines are considered 'amateurs.' Jeong said, "Ttakji dealers easily make 100,000 won a day," adding, "People stockpile 20 to 30 ttakji at a time."

Ttakji dealing is practically done openly. A man wearing a gray vest visits the adult game centers daily to sell ttakji. If you want to buy or sell points, you go to the man in the gray vest. Although he is not directly employed by the business, he wears a gray uniform and acts like a staff member while conducting ttakji sales. After buying ttakji from the dealer, players go to the game center staff and say, "I have points," and the staff inputs the points into the game machine. Kim said, "Who would believe there’s no cash exchange?" adding, "Basic living allowance recipients come to Tapgol Park’s adult game centers hoping for a big win."

If cash exchange exists, the game can be classified as a gambling game. According to the Act on the Regulation and Punishment of Gambling Acts, gambling refers to determining gains or losses of property through chance. If players do not manipulate the game themselves but earn points by luck and can convert those points into money, it is considered gambling. Gambling-related businesses require government approval.

Local Governments Neglect Illegal Gambling Game Centers... "Buying and Selling Ttakji Means Cash Exchange"

The local governments responsible for management, such as Jongno District Office, are neglecting these game centers. According to the Game Industry Promotion Act, game operators must ensure that no one uses two or more game machines simultaneously inside the venue. Moreover, if cash exchange occurs through ttakji dealing, making it effectively gambling, it should not be tolerated. However, all of this is happening openly. Local governments can take administrative actions such as suspending business or revoking licenses upon detection. They should also install transparent glass windows so the interior can be seen from outside. But three of the four adult game centers are located underground, and J Game Land has most of its windows coated, making it difficult to see inside, so these regulations are not being followed. A Jongno District Office official said, "We plan to conduct regular crackdowns and guidance on gambling-related games in cooperation with Seoul City and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism."

Game law expert Lee Cheol-woo said, "Even if cash or gift certificates do not come directly out of the game machines like the notorious 'Bada Iyagi' gambling game, buying and selling points as ttakji can be considered cash exchange," adding, "Gambling games have a harmful impact beyond the gaming industry and society, so illegal activities must be strictly cracked down on."