Youth gambling is on the rise in South Korea, according to multiple studies, but the government is now trying to stop the trend.A group of middle schoolers who repeatedly stole from their classmates to foster the habit tells us that the country still has a long way to go.
A group of teenagers in Sejong City are facing allegations of repeatedly assaulting and robbing their companions, according to The Korea Herald.Between December and the end of March last year, he allegedly robbed victims 10 times for online gambling.
Two of the accused students reportedly sent threatening messages to pressure victims into giving up amounts of 2 to 2,000 won (US$20,000 to US$1.52) each time.The total amount they stole is unknown.For that reason, formal criminal charges are now being filed.
bullied for lunch
The victim's parents say their son was manipulated into revealing his bank account information.The bullies then used that information to gamble online, taking advantage of sign-up bonuses and other rewards.
The pain and deterioration suffered by the victim led him to seek emotional support.His parents are going to hire a lawyer and report the victim to the police.
Despite the potential for criminal cases, the school hopes to end juvenile delinquency peacefully.The Sejong City Office of Education plans to mediate discussions between bullies, victims, and their parents through mediation and reconciliation support groups.
If an appropriate agreement cannot be reached, the school's Violence Committee will be responsible for determining policy regarding student behavior.You could be expelled from school, but that would only give you more time to gamble online.
Korean teens love gambling
Data reveals a notable increase in the number of adolescents suffering from gambling addiction in recent years. In 2019, the Korea Problem Gambling Center (KPGC) reported that 981 teenagers received treatment for gambling addiction.This figure was just 2015 in 17.
In 2016, 240 young people sought help, jumping to 2017 in 345 and 2018 in 714.
Through the first eight months of 2020, this figure reached 8.More than 549 teenagers have been hospitalized for their gambling addiction, according to new data.
KPGC data shows that around 10% of teenage gamblers prefer to bet on sports.Also, about 60% choose simple gambling.You can also see that over 34.6% of that activity is done online.
There are two fundamental issues driving this growth. First, Korean teenagers can now open bank accounts without the hassle.
The media Korea JoonAng Daily points out that almost anyone can open a Kakao Bank online account without verification.In some cases, teens even display their bank account information on social media.
Another issue is education.The South Korean school system is said to be underfunded to provide responsible gambling education.This is despite repeated efforts by some politicians to press for a budget change. Teenagers are often unaware that their pastime is gambling.
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