A union representing workers at Jeju Dream Tower has asked authorities to inspect all of Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos over concerns that they could be used to conceal proceeds from telephone and online scams.
In an Oct. 2 statement, the union asked the Jeju Provincial Police Agency to examine possible money laundering and illegal currency exchange at local casinos. It also asked the provincial government to coordinate checks of operators’ anti-money-laundering and customer-management systems. The request alleged risks requiring investigation; it did not establish that any casino had laundered criminal funds.
The union linked its call to conditions faced by casino staff, citing verbal abuse and threats against frontline employees. It said growth in tourism and casinos should be matched by stronger crime prevention and worker protection, and urged operators to introduce effective procedures for staff facing abuse, violence or threats.
It also sought cooperation and a formal meeting with the Chinese Consulate General in Jeju on crime prevention and Chinese visitors’ compliance with Korean law. At the same time, the union stressed that visitors should not be treated as potential criminals because of their nationality.
The appeal followed a Sept. 28 walkout by casino workers over work and rest arrangements, pay and promotion policies. Lotte Tour Development said the casino operated normally on the first day of the strike.
The request comes against a wider backdrop of concern over illicit currency exchange on the island. Jeju has eight casinos open only to foreign-passport holders, and the Jeju Metropolitan Police Agency said in March that illegal exchange activity involving such holders was rising. Police said the operators served undocumented immigrants and casino patrons seeking to send money abroad beyond remittance limits, and that associated activity could lead to fraud, kidnapping, confinement, extortion and assault.
Police had launched security measures including a WeChat reporting channel and planned awareness campaigns aimed at foreign visitors, as well as posters at casinos and other high-value exchange venues urging people to use official financial institutions. Jeju Province had also said it would conduct special casino inspections focused on compliance with entry procedures; a similar campaign the previous year found 15 violations.
Jeju visitor numbers rose almost fourfold from 2022 to 2024, reaching about 663,000, while casino revenue reached $324 million in the period cited by police. Separately, Dream Tower denied June allegations that promotional chips had been sold without proceeds being recorded as casino revenue, saying the chips were strictly managed under applicable rules.
