The History of Gambling in Korea

The history of gambling in Korea stretches back centuries, predating modern legal restrictions and reflecting the complex relationship between Korean society and games of chance. From traditional board games played during lunar new year celebrations to the sophisticated casino operations of today, gambling has evolved alongside Korean culture, weathering periods of acceptance, prohibition, and strict regulation.

Ancient Origins: The Three Kingdoms Period

South Koreans have been gambling since the Three Kingdoms period (57 BCE - 668 CE), when the Korean peninsula was divided into the kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla. Archaeological and historical evidence suggests that gambling games existed during this era, though detailed records remain scarce.

During these ancient times, gambling was not subject to the legal frameworks that would emerge in later dynasties. Games of chance served both entertainment and social functions, helping to build community bonds and provide leisure activities for people across different social classes.

Historical Context

The Three Kingdoms period represents the earliest documented evidence of gambling activities on the Korean peninsula. While comprehensive records are limited, historical texts reference games involving chance and wagering during this era, establishing gambling as a long-standing cultural practice rather than a modern phenomenon.

Traditional Korean Gambling Games

Several traditional Korean games have incorporated elements of gambling throughout history, becoming woven into the cultural fabric of Korean society.

Yunnori: The Cultural Board Game

Yunnori, also known as yutnori, yut, nyout, or yoot, stands as Korea's most culturally significant traditional board game. Played especially during Korean New Year (Seollal), yunnori combines elements of chance and strategy, making it ideal for family gatherings and celebrations.

The game possesses deep cultural roots beyond simple entertainment. Initially, yunnori originated as a religious ritual embodying yin-yang principles and the 28 asterisms of East Asian astronomy. The game's structure reflected the heavens, earth, four seasons, and the length of the day, demonstrating how gambling games could carry cosmological and philosophical significance in Korean culture.

Players throw four wooden sticks to determine movement on a board, with the combination of how the sticks land dictating how far pieces advance. While modern yunnori is typically played for fun without money at stake, historical versions often involved wagering, particularly during holiday celebrations when social restrictions relaxed.

Tujeon: Traditional Playing Cards

Tujeon represents the traditional playing cards of Korea, used extensively during the latter half of the Joseon dynasty. According to historical accounts, a man named Jang simplified existing cards to create tujeon while imprisoned, subsequently teaching the game to fellow prisoners and guards.

The popularity of tujeon grew rapidly, spreading beyond prison walls to become a common gambling medium throughout Korean society. The cards' portability and the variety of games possible with tujeon made them particularly popular for gambling activities, contributing to the social problems that eventually prompted government intervention.

Janggi: Korean Chess and Wagering

Janggi, the Korean variant of chess, has been played on the Korean peninsula for centuries. Residents historically wagered on janggi matches, with skilled players competing for money and spectators placing bets on outcomes. Unlike pure games of chance, janggi requires substantial skill and strategy, placing it in a gray area between gambling and competitive gaming.

The tradition of betting on janggi continues informally today, though modern Korean gambling laws technically prohibit unauthorized wagering on any activity, including skill-based games.

Ssireum and Sports Betting

Ssireum, traditional Korean wrestling similar to Japanese sumo, has long been a popular sport for wagering. Betting on sports has been an accepted practice in Korean culture for centuries, with ssireum matches drawing crowds of spectators who would place informal bets on their favored wrestlers.

Traditional sports betting differed significantly from modern organized gambling. Wagers were typically informal agreements between individuals rather than systematic operations run by gambling houses or syndicates.

The Joseon Dynasty: Prohibition and Social Concern

The Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) witnessed growing governmental concern about gambling's social impact. Gambling was only explicitly prohibited during the Joseon era, representing the first systematic legal restrictions on wagering activities in Korean history.

King Jeongjo, who reigned from 1776 to 1800, issued several bans against tujeon card gambling after observing that gambling was causing serious social problems throughout his kingdom. These prohibitions proved largely ineffective, as gambling continued despite official disapproval. The repeated issuance of gambling bans demonstrates both the prevalence of the activity and the difficulty authorities faced in controlling it.

The social problems that concerned Joseon-era rulers mirror modern concerns about gambling addiction, family disruption, and economic hardship caused by excessive wagering. Historical records document cases of individuals losing entire family fortunes to gambling, servants stealing from masters to fund gambling habits, and the breakdown of social order in communities where gambling flourished unchecked.

Historical Pattern

The ineffectiveness of Joseon-era gambling bans foreshadowed modern enforcement challenges. Despite increasingly strict penalties, gambling persisted as an underground activity, demonstrating that prohibition alone cannot eliminate deeply rooted cultural practices without addressing underlying social and economic factors.

Colonial Period and Post-Liberation (1910-1960)

The Japanese colonial period (1910-1945) introduced new forms of gambling to Korea, including Japanese-style lottery systems and pachinko-like games. Most significantly, this period saw the introduction of hwatu (flower cards), adapted from Japanese hanafuda, which would become Korea's most popular traditional card game. Japanese authorities regulated some gambling activities while prohibiting others, creating a mixed regulatory environment.

Following liberation in 1945 and the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea faced significant challenges in establishing a stable legal and social order. Gambling regulations during this period remained inconsistent, with enforcement taking a backseat to more pressing concerns of national reconstruction.

Modern Casino Development (1960s-2000)

South Korea's modern casino industry began developing in the 1960s as part of efforts to attract foreign tourists and generate revenue. The government authorized the establishment of foreigner-only casinos, recognizing the economic potential of gambling tourism while maintaining restrictions on Korean citizens.

This two-tier system, which persists today, reflects the government's attempt to balance economic benefits against social concerns. Foreign visitors could gamble freely at designated casinos, while Korean citizens faced strict prohibitions designed to protect them from gambling-related harms.

The Establishment of Kangwon Land

The year 2000 marked a watershed moment in Korean gambling history with the opening of Kangwon Land, the first and only casino where Korean citizens could legally gamble. Established under the Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas, Kangwon Land represented a significant policy shift.

Located at the site of a former coal mine in the remote Gangwon Province, the casino was conceived as an economic development tool for a depressed region. The government-owned facility aimed to create jobs and stimulate the local economy while maintaining strict controls on gambling access for Korean citizens.

Kangwon Land's opening sparked immediate controversy. Critics argued that allowing a locals-only casino contradicted the government's stated concerns about gambling's social harms. Supporters countered that the controlled environment would be safer than illegal gambling operations and would keep gambling revenue within South Korea rather than flowing to offshore operators.

Horse Racing, Cycling, and Boat Racing

Throughout the late 20th century, South Korea authorized limited legal betting on horse racing, bicycle racing, and motorboat racing. These activities, operated under strict government oversight, provided legal gambling outlets while generating tax revenue.

The Korea Racing Authority manages horse racing operations, while the Korea Cycle Racing Association and Korea Boat Racing Association oversee their respective sports. All three organizations operate under the National Gambling Control Commission's supervision, ensuring compliance with gambling regulations.

These legalized betting activities represent a pragmatic compromise: recognizing that demand for gambling exists while channeling that demand into regulated, taxed operations rather than illegal markets.

The Rise of Illegal Gambling (2000-Present)

Despite strict legal restrictions, illegal gambling has flourished in South Korea since 2000. The limited legal options available to Korean citizens, combined with technological advances and globalization, created conditions for a substantial underground gambling economy.

The internet revolutionized illegal gambling in South Korea. Online platforms based offshore allowed Korean citizens to gamble remotely, circumventing traditional enforcement methods. As discussed in our online gambling section, the government has responded with increasingly sophisticated blocking and enforcement measures, yet illegal online gambling persists.

The scale of illegal gambling in South Korea is substantial. Recent enforcement crackdowns have revealed networks processing trillions of won in illegal wagers annually, demonstrating that prohibition has not eliminated demand for gambling services.

Cultural Attitudes: Acceptance and Stigma

Korean cultural attitudes toward gambling reflect deep ambivalence. Traditional games retain cultural significance and nostalgic value, particularly during holiday celebrations when families gather to play yunnori or other traditional games without significant stakes.

However, gambling for substantial money carries significant social stigma. Research by the Korean Center on Gambling Problems indicates that the average Korean is two to three times more likely to suffer from gambling addiction compared to other nationalities, contributing to societal wariness about gambling's risks.

This cultural context helps explain South Korea's restrictive legal approach. The government's gambling laws reflect both historical concerns dating back to the Joseon dynasty and modern recognition of gambling addiction's severe social and economic consequences.

Historical Timeline Summary

Period	Key Developments
Three Kingdoms (57 BCE - 668 CE)	Earliest evidence of gambling activities on Korean peninsula
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910)	First systematic gambling prohibitions; King Jeongjo's repeated bans against tujeon
Colonial Period (1910-1945)	Introduction of Japanese gambling forms; mixed regulatory environment
1960s-1990s	Development of foreigner-only casino industry; authorization of racing and sports betting
2000	Opening of Kangwon Land, first casino for Korean citizens
2000-Present	Rise of online gambling; increasing enforcement efforts; strict legal framework maintained

Lessons from History

The history of gambling in Korea demonstrates several consistent patterns. First, demand for gambling has persisted across centuries despite varying levels of legal restriction. Second, prohibition without effective enforcement proves ineffective, as evidenced by both Joseon-era bans and modern challenges with online gambling. Third, gambling-related social problems have concerned authorities across different historical periods, from King Jeongjo to contemporary policymakers.

Understanding this historical context provides essential background for comprehending modern South Korean gambling policy. Today's strict restrictions did not emerge arbitrarily but developed from centuries of cultural experience with gambling's benefits and costs.

Contemporary Relevance

The historical evolution of gambling in Korea continues shaping current policy debates. Arguments for liberalization cite the ineffectiveness of prohibition, while opponents point to historical evidence of gambling's social harms. This tension between individual freedom, economic opportunity, and social protection defines ongoing discussions about Korea's gambling future.