South Korea Jails Three Over Gambling Sites Linked to North Korean Hackers

The Seoul Central District Court sentenced three people on November 12 for helping distribute illegal gambling websites created through collaboration with North Korean hackers.

One defendant received four years in prison, while the other two were each sentenced to three years. The court also imposed suspensions of qualifications on two defendants, restricting certain rights and eligibility for public office. 

Sixteen gambling websites sold to domestic operators

The defendants assisted a ringleader identified by his surname, Kim, who developed 16 illegal gambling websites with North Korean hackers between 2022 and 2024 and sold them to operators in South Korea.

According to the court findings reported by Yonhap, the sales generated approximately KRW23.5 billion, or $17.6 million. More than KRW7 billion, roughly 30% of the proceeds, was transferred to the North Korean hackers.

Kim was sentenced in September to five years in prison and a five-year suspension of qualifications. The latest proceedings concerned the three accomplices who helped distribute the websites. 

Court rejects claim of ignorance

SBS reported that the defendant given the four-year sentence was Kim’s younger sibling. The defendant argued that they did not know the developers were North Korean hackers, but the court rejected that defence.

The court cited evidence including North Korean terminology used in Telegram conversations in which the defendant participated. In explaining the sentences, it highlighted both the national security risks and the social harm associated with illegal online gambling.