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An undercover investigation by Chosun Daily found illegal gambling dens across Garibong-dong in Guro-gu, Seoul, which cater only to Chinese nationals. The paper links this growth directly to the rising number of Chinese residents and visitors in South Korea, estimating a connection between the high immigration rate and higher illegal gambling rates in that area. More than 100 dens were found equipped with slot machines and mahjong tables, all of which had a no-Koreans policy that kept locals entirely out.
How Underground Gambling Thrives
Most of these gambling operations are located among one another in a shabby, almost 50-year-old commercial building, and some external walls bear visible scars from years of abuse. The owner of the building claims that he does not know what goes on in his buildings, and his family members happen to include a well-known anti-Japanese extremist. In order to enter one of the gambling halls, a person must show proof of possession of a Chinese-issued form of identification, which guards will check via threats of violence. Windows are covered with cardboard, so no one walking down the street can view activity inside the building. These two facts add to the secrecy, and it is almost impossible to notice such places from the outside.
One gambler interviewed during the probe described how players from these dens frequently spill over into a nearby unregistered guesthouse after hours. That facility charges a daily fee of KRW$10,000 and serves as an extension of the gambling ecosystem, players wrap up late-night sessions downstairs, crash upstairs, and return for more the next day. The setup creates a self-contained environment where gambling bleeds into every hour.
The Surge Tied to Demographics
The proliferation ties directly to demographic shifts among Chinese communities in South Korea. As the population of Chinese Koreans ages, particularly those in their middle years and beyond, more individuals find themselves sidelined from mainstream economic opportunities. Last year marked the first time the proportion of overseas compatriots aged 60 or older exceeded 40 percent. Younger Chinese Koreans often acquire skills locally before heading back to China for work, leaving behind an older cohort more susceptible to gambling’s pull.
These “senior activity rooms, “a euphemism imported from Yanji, China, in the 1990s, have become a fixture. Initially used in Chinese slang by unemployed youths during the country’s economic crisis, the term became associated with gambling venues. By 2006-2007, it had spread to Garibong-Dong and the surrounding areas of Daerim-Dong, both located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, and Chinese Nationals were the only people permitted entry. Slot machines, mahjong tables, and card games were all prominently advertised on building fronts, causing many in that area to consider it a new form of entertainment.
Enforcement Struggles Mount
Data from police surveillance tells the story of the challenge. The number of illegal gambling dens under watch has risen from 273 in 2022 to 909 this year. But effectiveness in enforcement has worn away. The total number of onsite operations that were closed dropped from a 17.9 percent closure rate in 2022 (49 closures) to an 11.9 percent closure rate in 2024. Some formidable barriers exist: those operations maintain heavy security, often in cellular structures that limit exposure if one site gets hit.
Gathering usable evidence proves particularly tough. Guards prevent unauthorized entry, the interiors remain hidden, and the high-end clientele minimizes the chances of crossing paths with local witnesses. Running an illegal gambling hall for profit can incur up to five years imprisonment or fines of up to KRW$30 million. Building owners who knowingly let the activities take place face the same sentences. The activist descendant’s planned contract termination shows one response, but systemic issues persist.
Source: Asia Gaming Brief (AGB)
