China consulate in Jeju warns against social‑media solicitation of Chinese gamblers
Consulate brands solicitations a crime and urges South Korea to tighten casino oversight.
Key Takeaways
- China’s consulate general in Jeju warned on 30 October 2026 against unlicensed agents using Chinese social media to solicit nationals to gamble in Jeju casinos.
- The consulate said such solicitation is a crime under Chinese law and reiterated China’s “zero-tolerance” stance.
- The statement was published in Korean in Jemin Ilbo and posted in Chinese on the consulate’s website.
- Jeju drew nearly 1.9 million visitors from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan in calendar-year 2025.
China’s consulate general in Jeju, South Korea, issued a warning on 30 October 2026 against the use of Chinese social media by what it called “unlicensed agents” to solicit Chinese nationals to gamble in Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos. The consulate said the practice breaches Chinese law and reaffirmed Beijing’s “zero-tolerance” stance on organising or soliciting citizens to gamble overseas.
Consulate statement and requests to Seoul
The notice was published in Korean in local outlet Jemin Ilbo and was also posted in Chinese on the diplomatic mission’s website, the consulate said via a spokesperson. The statement said:
“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 consulate urged South Korean authorities to “earnestly fulfil their regulatory responsibilities and strictly regulate casino operations, eliminate gambling activities targeting Chinese tourists, and maintain Jeju’s good image as a ‘peace island’ and ‘tourism capital.’” The mission reiterated that such solicitation is a crime under Chinese law.
Tourist volumes and feeder markets
The consulate cited the benefits of Chinese tourism for Jeju and gave a 2025 aggregate figure of nearly 1.9 million visitors from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan for calendar-year 2025. Per Jeju Tourism Organization data, in the seven months to 31 July 2026 the island’s top three feeder markets were:
Chinese mainland: 980,804 visitors (up 4.2% year-on-year)
Taiwan: 196,378 visitors (up 67.1% year-on-year)
Japan: 57,813 visitors (up 57.2% year-on-year)
Jeju maintains a visa-free entry policy applicable to visitors from the Chinese mainland and a number of other regional source markets. The consulate said frequent “exchanges” between Jeju and China had strengthened the island’s “confidence” in exploring further tourism cooperation.
For context on regulatory duties referenced by the mission, see the site's regulation section.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did China’s consulate general in Jeju warn about?
The consulate warned that unlicensed agents are using Chinese social media platforms to solicit Chinese tourists to gamble in Jeju’s foreigner-only casinos, calling the practice opposed and a crime under Chinese law. The warning was issued via a consulate spokesperson, published in Korean in Jemin Ilbo and posted in Chinese on the mission’s website.
When was the consulate’s statement published and where?
The statement was published on 30 October 2026 in Korean in local outlet Jemin Ilbo and was also lodged in Chinese on the consulate general in Jeju’s website, according to the diplomatic mission.
What visitor figures did the consulate cite for Jeju?
The consulate cited an aggregate of nearly 1.9 million visitors from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan for calendar-year 2025, and Jeju Tourism Organization data showing 980,804 visitors from the Chinese mainland in the seven months to 31 July 2026.
How have Jeju’s feeder markets changed in 2026 year‑on‑year?
Jeju Tourism Organization data show the Chinese mainland tally rose 4.2% year‑on‑year in the seven months to 31 July 2026; Taiwan increased 67.1% and Japan rose 57.2% over the same period.
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About the author
Eleanor Whitfield
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Eleanor Whitfield tracks gambling legislation, licensing decisions, and regulator enforcement across key markets — from the UKGC, MGA, and Germany's GGL to Spain's DGOJ and the state-by-state map in the Americas. The reporting answers three questions precisely: what changed, where, and who it affects, with jurisdictions, effective dates, and penalty figures named exactly as published. Compliance officers and operators read Eleanor Whitfield to know which rulebook moved before their next board meeting.
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