Serious Issue of Online Gambling Among Soldiers and Elementary Students
Proposal to Implement Payment Suspension for Suspected Illegal Gambling Accounts
Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, is speaking at the proposal presentation and performance report meeting of the 'Gambling Overcoming Project Special Committee (Special Committee)' held on the morning of the 28th at the Government Seoul Office. (Photo by National Integration Committee)
The Presidential Committee for National Integration proposed on the 28th that a system to suspend payments from suspected illegal gambling accounts should be introduced to eradicate illegal gambling.
On the morning of the same day, the Committee held a proposal presentation and performance report meeting for the "Gambling Overcoming Project Special Committee (Special Committee)" at the Government Seoul Office Building, containing this announcement.
Kim Han-gil, Chairman of the National Integration Committee, stated in his opening remarks, "Illegal gambling is said to be 10 to 20 times larger than legal gambling," adding, "If we consider there are 2.3 million legal gambling addicts, the number for illegal gambling is so severe that we don't even want to calculate it."
He continued, "In the past, gambling was a problem only among adults, but nowadays many soldiers are heavily involved in online gambling after work," emphasizing, "We can no longer ignore the serious reality that a significant number of elementary school students are involved in gambling through online games."
The Special Committee announced that freezing illegal gambling accounts is the top priority to eradicate illegal gambling.
The Special Committee proposed the immediate implementation of strong account management measures such as strengthening the management of bank virtual accounts exploited for illegal gambling and warning alarms for suspicious account transfers in internet banks, and suggested the introduction of a payment suspension system for suspected illegal gambling accounts similar to the current voice phishing fund freezing system.
Chairman Kim said, "There was no basis to block suspected illegal gambling accounts, so there were limits to cutting off the funding sources," adding, "Policies to immediately freeze illegal gambling funds through payment suspension of suspicious accounts and strictly manage virtual accounts to cut off funding sources must be promoted."
Additionally, the Special Committee explained that a 'Special Investigation Headquarters for Gambling Crimes' involving investigative agencies such as the prosecution and police, as well as related organizations, should be established to continuously crack down on illegal gambling operators, and a dedicated subcommittee of the Korea Communications Standards Commission should be formed for the rapid blocking of illegal gambling sites.
Furthermore, to prevent the worsening problem of gambling among soldiers, it proposed selecting high-risk groups through surveys conducted during conscription examinations before enlistment or during military service to support their treatment and recovery, and considering the lowering age of youth gambling, it suggested the introduction of a one-stop service for youth gambling issues.
Chairman Kim stated, "Among the Special Committee's proposals, those that can be immediately implemented by ministries should be enacted right away, and for matters requiring legal amendments, we ask for the National Assembly's cooperation to ensure legislation proceeds as quickly as possible."
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