Chinese Consulate in Jeju Cautions Against Social Media Solicitation of Nationals for Local Casino Gambling
China’s consulate in Jeju warned against unlicensed agents using social media to solicit nationals for gambling in foreigner-only casinos and urged stricter South Korean regulation. The statement reaffirmed zero-tolerance for overseas gambling organization, a crime in China. Nearly 1.9 million Chinese visitors reached Jeju in 2025 amid continued growth.
SCCG Take — The intervention highlights regulatory exposure for Jeju casino operators reliant on Chinese tourism flows, where diplomatic pressure can directly shape local compliance demands.
China’s consulate general in Jeju, South Korea, has cautioned against unlicensed agents using Chinese social media platforms to solicit Chinese citizens to gamble in Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos. The consulate urged South Korean authorities to earnestly fulfil their regulatory responsibilities and strictly regulate casino operations, according to reporting by GGRAsia.
The statement was issued via a consulate spokesperson, published in Korean in the local outlet Jemin Ilbo and lodged in Chinese on the mission’s website. It referenced China’s zero-tolerance stance on efforts to solicit or organise its citizens to gamble overseas, activity that constitutes a crime under Chinese law.
Direct Warnings on Unlicensed Agents
“We have often received reports and complaints from Chinese tourists that there are unlicensed agents using Chinese social media platforms to solicit Chinese tourists for gambling in Jeju Island via private messages. We firmly oppose this [practice],” the statement said.
The consulate noted the value of Chinese tourism to Jeju, citing nearly 1.9 million visitors drawn from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan in calendar-year 2025. It expressed hope that relevant South Korean departments would focus on the long-term development of Jeju’s tourism industry and broader China-South Korea people-to-people exchanges.
Visitor Data and Regulatory Call
The consulate further urged authorities to eliminate gambling activities targeting Chinese tourists and maintain Jeju’s good image as a “peace island” and “tourism capital.” Jeju Tourism Organization data showed 980,804 visitors from the Chinese mainland in the seven months to July 31 this year, a 4.2 percent rise year-on-year. Taiwan recorded 196,378 visitors, up 67.1 percent, while Japan contributed 57,813 visitors, up 57.2 percent. The island operates a visa-free entry policy for visitors from the Chinese mainland.
The notice stops short of detailing specific enforcement steps but reiterates the legal prohibition on such solicitation under Chinese law.
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