Seoul: The number of teenagers seeking treatment or counseling for gambling issues rose significantly by over 40 percent last year, newly released data indicated.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a total of 5,838 individuals aged 19 and under sought help for gambling problems in 2025, reflecting a 40.9 percent increase compared to the previous year. This data was provided by the National Gambling Control Commission to Rep. Lim Oh-kyeong of the ruling Democratic Party.

The statistics revealed that illegal online gambling was the predominant cause, accounting for 57.7 percent of the cases. Despite the identification of 24,474 teenagers as part of a high-risk group for gambling issues last year, only 1,235 were referred to the Korea Problem Gambling Agency. This state agency is responsible for providing prevention, counseling, and rehabilitation services to individuals facing gambling challenges, the lawmaker noted, citing the data.

Rep. Lim emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul of the current prevention policy management systems to ensure better protection for teenagers against gambling-related issues.