Gyeonggi Province’s Office of Education has forged a partnership with South Korea’s Gambling Control Commission (KGCC) to combat youth gambling through a new agreement. A memorandum of understanding was formalized on Monday to address increasing exposure to gambling among schoolchildren, particularly via smartphones. This initiative focuses on integrating preventative education within broader school initiatives.
The signing took place at Osan Seongho Middle School, establishing a connection between gambling prevention education and a strategy promoting a "phone-free" environment, supplemented by RAS education. RAS, which emphasizes reading, arts, and sports, is aimed at engaging students in structured activities that provide screen-free alternatives.
Through this dual approach, the agreement aims to not only restrict access to gambling content on smartphones but also fulfill students' free time with meaningful activities that diminish their reliance on digital devices.
The KGCC, which operates under the office of the Prime Minister, is responsible for gambling oversight and monitoring illegal gambling practices. This collaboration will include policy coordination, student protection initiatives, and the sharing of educational resources and experts in prevention. They will also analyze operational data, develop pilot programs, and create a model for potential national deployment.
This partnership emphasizes a school-centric and sustained method for gambling prevention. The strategy moves away from temporary campaigns, instead focusing on embedding gambling prevention in daily school routines. By combining smartphone restrictions with engaging RAS activities, the initiative aims to effectively prevent exposure to gambling content.
During the signing ceremony, Gyeonggi education chief An Min-seok highlighted the urgent need for action, stating, "To effectively respond to youth gambling problems, close cooperation between the Office of Education, which best understands the school environment, and specialized prevention and treatment institutions is necessary." He also expressed the hope that this agreement translates into practical policy implementation rather than remaining just an event.
South Korea joins a growing list of countries, including Ireland, which launched a national campaign in July aimed at equipping parents and guardians with the tools to recognize and address underage gambling. This campaign utilizes video-on-demand services, radio, digital audio networks, and social media platforms to reach its audience.
