Faker appointed as a police sergeant by the Korea National Police Agency to curb the trend of underage online gambling

The South Korean National Police Agency’s youth online gambling surrender system, promoted since May 18, has already accumulated 806 reported cases within two months. To encourage more teenagers to seek help proactively, the police on July 22 further appointed esports legend Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok) as Honorary Police Captain, serving as an ambassador for prevention and awareness of youth online gambling.
(Background: Polymarket is being targeted again: South Korea’s anti-gambling law review has begun, with the June election market as the spark)
(Additional context: Truth》More than half of South Korea’s stock market liquidations are young people! But are they making crazy leverage because they’re greedy?)

How serious is the youth online gambling problem in South Korea? The “Youth Online Gambling Surrender System,” launched on May 18, drew 806 reports in just two months. To make more lost children willing to raise their hands and seek help, the South Korean National Police Agency turned to Faker, a legendary figure in esports.

On July 22, the South Korean National Police Agency officially hired Lee Sang-hyeok as “Honorary Police Officer,” rank of police captain (경장). In terms of establishment, he is under the Cyber Crime Investigation Division, and he is also assigned the title of “Publicity Ambassador for Preventing Youth Online Gambling.” The legendary player, who holds six《League of Legends》World Championship trophies, now has an additional identity.

On the day of his appointment, Lee Sang-hyeok also presented a signed T1 team jersey to a teenager who had successfully quit gambling through a treatment program.

Why choose Faker? The police are borrowing an image of “self-discipline”

Acting commissioner Ryu Jae-seong described that, throughout his many years of professional career, Lee Sang-hyeok has demonstrated a level of self-discipline and restraint that is relatively scarce among young people of this generation. In his view, compared with formal propaganda materials, having a reputable idol come out and speak from personal experience can drive the message “If you should surrender, then surrender” deeper into teenagers’ hearts, and it also helps bring closer ties between police and the public.

The program isn’t about catching people—it’s about giving a way back

The logic behind this surrender mechanism is actually not as the outside world imagines—“sweeping in to catch people.”

Illegal gambling in South Korea can already give rise to criminal liability, but the system launched by police on May 18 does not aim to send the involved teenagers directly into judicial procedures. Instead, it first arranges for them to undergo gambling addiction assessments and psychological counseling, and then, depending on the situation, routes them into gambling quit treatment. The program is scheduled to run until it ends on August 31.

South Korean police have also pointed out recently that some campuses have seen a bad trend of gambling. There have even been cases where students were absorbed by criminal groups and became “salespeople” who bring others to place bets among classmates—this is also the background for why the police are urgently looking for a spokesperson to come out and urge people to speak up.

So what happens after surrender? The police will not only look at whether you voluntarily turn yourself in. Instead, they will send each case to an external expert committee composed of reviewers. They check one item at a time: how deep the person’s gambling was, whether they truly show remorse, and how well they cooperate with treatment and rehabilitation.