Since the beginning of this year, Korean media and brokerage firms have repeatedly claimed that Chinese tourists have once again become one of the most important growth engines for casinos in Korea that are exclusively for foreigners, and even the most closely watched growth driver in the market. The Chinese Embassy in Korea stated in response: “Deeply shocked and firmly opposed,” also emphasizing that it is illegal for Chinese citizens to participate in gambling overseas.
According to United Daily News, Korea’s Shinhan Securities pointed out that the future profits of the three major Korean casino operators exclusively for foreigners—Paradise, Lotte Tour Development, and GKL—will largely depend on the increase in Chinese travelers. In particular, if Korea further expands its visa-free policy for Chinese tourists, it will create a new catalyst for growth.
On the evening of the 3rd, the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in Korea released a message stating that Tang Liang, Counsellor in charge of consular affairs at the embassy, published an article titled “Do Not Do to Others What You Do Not Want Done to Yourself” in The Korea Times, rebutting the Korean media’s promotion of Chinese tourists as the core growth driver of Korean casinos.
The article stated, “Recently, some media have promoted that Korean casinos should take the return of Chinese tourists as the core growth driver and treat Chinese tourists as the main source of customers for the gambling industry. We are deeply shocked and firmly opposed to this.”
Tang Liang stated that Confucius said: “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” Gambling seriously endangers social rule of law and undermines public morals, which is a common consensus in the international community. Korean law strictly restricts its citizens from participating in gambling, and explicitly forbids its nationals from entering almost all casinos, which fully shows that Korea is very well aware of the social harm caused by gambling and related illegal crimes. Chinese law holds an even stricter “zero tolerance” toward gambling, and it is also illegal for Chinese citizens to participate in gambling overseas.
Tang Liang pointed out that Korean casinos specifically target foreigners, especially Chinese people, for solicitation and marketing, and some media publicly promote this as a so-called “economic growth driver”. This practice is highly inappropriate.
The article also stated that harvesting profits from tourists from other countries through gambling is not only a harmful and shortsighted act, but will also corrode the friendly sentiments between the peoples of China and Korea. It is hoped that the Korean side will proceed from the overall interest of Sino-Korean friendship, strictly regulate the operation of casinos, and put a stop to gambling solicitations targeted at Chinese tourists.