A Real-Life 'True Education'? Dozens Confess to Cyber Gambling After Police Call for Voluntary Reporting

It was confirmed today (June 22) that 48 students from a single school confessed to gambling following a month-long voluntary reporting period for youth cyber gambling initiated by the National Police Agency.

Across the country, 294 reports were filed (244 by the students themselves and 50 by guardians), reflecting a reality that mirrors the school gambling addiction depicted in the popular Netflix series "True Education."

High School A in the Gangwon region saw the highest number of reports in the country, with 48 students coming forward.

Including 20 students from the nearby High School B, a total of 78 students in the Gangwon region voluntarily reported their gambling activities.

To encourage voluntary reporting, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency distributed business cards for School Police Officers (SPOs) that included their Instagram IDs and actively utilized direct messages (DMs), a communication method familiar to teenagers.

In Incheon, a 15-year-old male student turned himself in after assaulting his mother for refusing to pay off his 4 million won gambling debt and subsequently attempting to take his own life.

The total amount he had gambled reached 30 million won.

The student is set to receive follow-up care, including counseling at a gambling problem prevention and treatment center and participation in addiction recovery programs at a psychiatric hospital.

Secondary crimes committed to secure gambling funds were also identified.

A notable case involves a 17-year-old school dropout, identified as "C," in the Jeonbuk region, who habitually ran away from home and broke into vehicles to fund his gambling habit.

Over a period of 1 year and 2 months, the total amount C deposited into gambling sites reached 16 million won.

Deeming his addiction to be severe, authorities have connected him to an addiction recovery program and a youth shelter.

According to the National Police Agency, the youth who voluntarily reported their gambling had been doing so for an average of 12 months, with an average gambling amount of 3 million won.

The highest individual amount reached 60 million won.

By gender, males accounted for the vast majority, with 274 individuals (93%).

Cyber gambling has permeated not only high schools (176 students, 60%) but also middle schools (118 students, 40%).

The government plans to continue the voluntary reporting program until the end of August.

The program is open to individuals under the age of 19 who have experience with cyber gambling, as well as their guardians.

All reports can be filed through the 117 School Violence Reporting and Counseling Center.

Once a voluntary report is received, School Police Officers and professional gambling addiction counselors immediately conduct counseling and screening tests for the individual, and connect them to specialized addiction treatment institutions based on the results.

When determining police-level disciplinary actions, authorities plan to show maximum leniency—such as issuing a warning or requesting a summary trial—by comprehensively reviewing the student's gambling amount, attitude of remorse, and progress in recovery, following a joint deliberation and resolution by the Pre-trial Diversion Committee at each police station.

Furthermore, School Police Officers and professional counselors from the Korea Center on Gambling Problems and Healing will provide ongoing support through continuous counseling for the students involved.

(Photo: Yonhap News TV, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.