South Korean man charged over North Korean gambling operation

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A South Korean has been arrested and charged by police over his suspected involvement in the sale of illegal gambling sites for a team of North Korean hackers.

The 55-year-old man, identified by his surname Kim, has been charged with concealing criminal proceeds under the National Security Act and the Crime Profit Concealment Act. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office, South Korea’s prosecuting authority, prosecuted Kim.

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The investigation began when South Korea’s National Intelligence Service seized Kim’s phone.

According to prosecutors, Kim is suspected of working with two hackers from one of North Korea’s security departments, the 313 General Bureau, which is part of the Ministry of Munitions and Industry.

Between 2022 and 2024, Kim allegedly sold 71 domains linked to 16 illegal gambling sites, which had been created by hackers, to South Korean gambling operators, earning up to US$936,000 in criminal proceeds in the process.

Prosecutors alleged that the illegal earnings generated as much as US$17 million over three years, and that around 30% of that amount had found its way to the North Korean regime.

Regarding the case, prosecutors said, “The prosecution will continue to seize and preserve confirmed criminal proceeds to block illegal profits and will strictly respond to individuals who threaten national security and democratic order for personal gain while exacerbating the risk of North Korean cyberterrorism against the ROK.”

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