Jeju Dream Tower Casino Strike by 400 Staff Centers on Shift Durations and Compensation
Around 400 staff at Jeju Dream Tower’s foreigner-only casino in South Korea began a strike on September 28 over shift lengths, rest times and pay structures. The action runs until October 3 after failed negotiations and follows an earlier partial stoppage. The operator reports continued operations with fewer tables while calling the shifts an international standard.
SCCG Take — The dispute shows how casino expansion can surface binding labor constraints on workloads and rewards when unaddressed in operator planning.
Approximately 400 employees at Jeju Dream Tower resort’s foreigner-only casino on the holiday island of Jeju in South Korea began a strike at 7am on September 28, according to reporting by GGRAsia. The labor action is scheduled to run until 7am on October 3. The casino has remained open with a reduced number of gaming tables.
The present strike follows a two-day partial stoppage on September 18 and 19 involving about 300 employees. It commenced after the Jeju Dream Tower Casino branch of the Korean Service Workers’ Union and management failed to narrow differences in wage and collective bargaining negotiations.
Union Demands Focus on Shorter Shifts and Alignment With Business Growth
The union stated that dealers typically worked 80-minute shifts with 20-minute breaks and sometimes 120 minutes continuously. It can take 10 minutes just to reach staff rest areas. The union is seeking 60-minute shifts along with a formal performance-bonus system, higher starting salaries for new employees, and changes to promotion and compensation arrangements.
The statement added that the strike was not simply about higher wages. It reflected concerns that working conditions and employee compensation had not improved in line with the casino’s business expansion. The union also called on the Jeju government to consider the impact of casino expansion on staffing levels, workloads and working conditions associated with staff overseeing increases in gaming tables and gaming equipment.
Operator Rebuts Claims and Reports Normal Operations
Jeju Dream Tower, operated by Lotte Tour Development Co Ltd, confirmed the strike had commenced among some staff. It rebutted the union’s claims on the grounds for the action and stated that operations remained normal despite the strike.
Management defended the 80-minute shift system as an international industry practice used in the Macau and Singapore casino markets. Data from South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism show Jeju Dream Tower casino had a total of 1,175 employees as of April 2026.
Reporting: GGRAsia
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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