Mr Seo said a record 156 teenagers received treatment for gambling addiction during the first seven months of this year. Medical expenses related to teen gambling addiction quadrupled from KRW113.9 million (US$81,727) in 2022 to KRW436.87 million in 2024, reported one of the outlets, Maeil Business Newspaper. Mr Seo also cited police data on arrests of young people in relation to gambling. The number of teenagers caught for gambling-related crimes rose eightfold from 76 in 2022, to 631 in 2024. Local media cited Mr Seo calling for an increase in gambling addiction treatment facilities for teenagers, as well as an expansion of the number of counselling staff, and of preventive education in schools.