Gambling Supervisory Commission and Ministry of Education, Conduct 'Youth Gambling Prevention Week'

*This content was translated by AI.

The Gambling Supervisory Commission and the Ministry of Education will jointly operate 'Youth Gambling Prevention Week' (Prevention Week) from May 11 to 17 to prevent gambling problems among youth and create a healthy growth environment.

Recently, as youth increasingly encounter content containing gambling elements, the need for prevention of youth gambling and school education to address it has grown. A Seoul National Police Agency official stated, "The number of detected cases of illegal gambling among youth surged by 62%, rising from 478 in 2024 to 777 in 2025, marking an explosive increase. Proactive prevention activities are urgently needed rather than just enforcement."

The commemorative ceremony for this year's third Prevention Week will be held on the 14th at Seoul Ttukseom Han River Park, with an event attended by both youth and parents.

Under the slogan 'Stop Gambling, That's the Winning Move!', the event will feature youth cultural performances, competitions, and experiential spaces promoting the risks of gambling and the necessity of prevention.

Notably, with the enforcement of the revised 'Gambling Supervisory Commission Act' (starting May 12, 2026), school principals are now required to conduct gambling prevention education at least twice a year. The Gambling Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Korea Problem Gambling Prevention and Recovery Institute will promote gambling prevention activities that can be felt on the ground in schools and actively support and manage the effective operation of mandatory gambling prevention education in schools.

Choi Byung-hwan, Chairman of the Gambling Supervisory Commission, said, "Youth gambling problems are not an individual issue but a shared challenge that society as a whole must address together."

The Ministry of Education is also responding positively. The Ministry of Education has decided to select and operate 200 'School Violence Prevention Harmony Plus Leading Schools' that implement gambling prevention education in connection with school violence prevention, character education, and health education (starting September 2026).

Choi Gyo-jin, Minister of the Ministry of Education, stated, "We must pool everyone's wisdom to protect youth from the dangers of gambling and create a protective environment where they can grow healthily."

A Korea Sports Promotion Foundation official, reached by phone, said, "The reality is that youth are exposed not only to illegal gambling but also to illegal loans and drugs. We hope for continued activities to protect youth on a nationwide scale."

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*This content was translated by AI.