South Korean police say their crackdown on teen gambling is paying dividends, as forces throughout the country launch amnesty periods.
In an initiative in Gyeonggi Province, the region surrounding Seoul, officers say 121 young people have made “voluntary confessions” of gambling-related crimes, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
The police force’s campaign is running a series of three-month self-reporting periods. During these periods, police say, those coming forward can expect clemency and access to gambling addiction-related resources.
Officers said the latest amnesty period ran from January 1 to March 31. Police said they have followed up with investigations into 117 of the people who came forward.
During the force’s latest amnesty period, police urged the parents and guardians of young gambling addicts to come forward.
Officers said parents and guardians could expect leniency for the children in their care during the amnesty.
Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police officers said 109 people, or 90.1% of the total, made confessions about their own crimes. A further 12 people’s crimes were reported by their parents and guardians.
Leniency Promises
Officers said 81 of the individuals are high school students. The remaining 40 currently attend middle school.
Most told police they had started gambling after receiving “recommendations from friends” or after seeing online ads for gambling platforms.
Young offenders who have gambled small amounts may escape with a caution, police said. Repeat offenders or high-spending gamblers may face further investigations, officers added.
Police said they would take a range of factors into account during the amnesty period when deciding whether to press charges.
Teen offenders who show genuine remorse and make concerted efforts to quit their gambling habits may escape punishment, a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the amnesty had yielded “meaningful results” and vowed to launch further amnesties.
Police said young people who wish to voluntarily report their crimes can call a toll-free police hotline.
“Voluntary reporting is not a means to evade punishment. It is a starting point for genuine recovery,” said Hwang Chang-sun, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Commissioner. “We will continue to provide young people with support.”
Teen Gambling: More Provincial Forces Run Campaigns
Gyeonggi’s announcement comes shortly after the launch of a new amnesty for teens in South Gyeongsang Province.
Police in the province said under-19s living there can come forward before the end of June to make confessions. Officers said people who do so will receive special counseling from care providers.
A similar drive that ended in February resulted in six teens making confessions.
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