In a written reply to Rep. Cheon Ha-ram, a member of the National Assembly's Defense Committee, the ministry said it is reviewing a self-reporting program under which troops who come forward could receive lighter administrative or criminal penalties while gaining access to counseling, addiction treatment and debt recovery support.
The proposal mirrors a self-reporting program recently introduced for teenage gamblers, reflecting a broader government effort to emphasize rehabilitation over punishment.
Under South Korea's conscription system, most able-bodied men serve about 18 months in the military, putting the armed forces at the intersection of wider social problems affecting young adults.
Away from family and friends during nearly two years of compulsory service, young conscripts can be especially vulnerable to online gambling once smartphones place betting apps within easy reach, prompting officials to rethink whether punishment alone can address the problem.
Army Headquarters said military police booked 313 service members on illegal online gambling charges last year, including 20 officers and noncommissioned officers and 293 enlisted soldiers. While that represents only a small share of the Army's roughly 324,000 personnel, officials acknowledge the true scale is likely larger because gambling addiction often remains hidden.
Financial distress has emerged as a growing concern.
In one case, a discharged soldier reportedly used tens of millions of won accumulated through the government's military savings program to repay gambling debts.
Private lending websites have also carried posts from active-duty soldiers seeking loans against expected payouts from military savings accounts and matching government contributions—benefits intended to help conscripts build financial security after service.
A Defense Ministry study based on in-depth interviews with 52 service members who had engaged in illegal gambling found that 80 percent had already begun gambling before entering the military, suggesting the problem largely predates enlistment rather than originating during service.
The ministry currently provides financial education, refers gambling offenders to treatment centers and offers rehabilitation and debt restructuring programs alongside criminal proceedings.
Cheon argued that changing conditions inside the military require a stronger policy response. Military pay has risen sharply in recent years, while personal smartphone use has become commonplace since the Defense Ministry permanently allowed enlisted troops to use their devices during off-duty hours in 2020.
"The ministry should move beyond a general review and introduce stronger and more effective measures," Cheon said. "Clear incentives, including meaningful reductions in criminal liability, are essential to bring hidden gambling problems into the open."
Whether the ministry ultimately grants reduced criminal penalties will likely determine whether the proposed program becomes a meaningful tool for uncovering hidden addiction or remains another counseling initiative with limited participation.
AJP Takeaways
- South Korea's Ministry of National Defense is reviewing a voluntary self-reporting program offering reduced penalties to service members who disclose illegal online gambling.
- The review was disclosed in a written response to lawmaker Cheon Ha-ram of the National Assembly's defense committee.
- Republic of Korea Army Headquarters reported 313 service members booked for illegal online gambling last year (20 officers/NCOs, 293 enlisted), out of about 324,000 total Army personnel.
- A ministry study of 52 gambling-involved service members found 80 percent had gambled before enlisting.
- Smartphone use after duty began on trial in April 2019, went nationwide in July 2020; current hours are 6–9 p.m. weekdays, 8:30 a.m.–9 p.m. weekends/holidays.
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