A recent poll conducted by the Jeju Island government highlights growing scepticism among locals about the role of the island’s foreigner-only casino industry in driving economic and social benefits. According to the survey, only 25.7 percent  of respondents viewed the industry’s impact as “positive,” while 28.6 percent  labelled it “negative” and 45.7 percent had no opinion.

Despite this, nearly half (49.9 percent ) agreed that the casino industry has contributed to longer stays by inbound tourists, compared to 21.6 percent  who disagreed and 28.5 percent  who remained neutral.

For the unaware, Jeju, a special self-governing province in South Korea since 2009, has the authority to regulate its casinos. The island currently has eight licensed casino venues, though only seven are operational. 

The Gongzi Casino has been closed since November 2024 due to renovations at its host hotel, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Jeju Ocean Front.

Over 22% critical on foreign-only casinos 

As per the findings of a local poll, 49 percent  of respondents believed casinos are helping to attract foreign tourists, marking a 4.8 percent increase from 2023, when 44.3 percent  held the same view. 

However, dissent also grew, with 21.8 percent disagreeing that casinos bolstered international tourism, up from 18.7 percent the previous year. Neutral opinions dropped from 37 percent in 2023 to 29.2 percent in 2024. 

Adding to the debate, several respondents expressed that Jeju casinos should open their doors to locals, allowing residents to bet and play, a move they believe could boost local spending and economic activity. 

While Jeju’s foreign tourism has seen significant growth, the island is yet to recover fully to pre-pandemic levels. As per the data, Jeju had welcomed over 11.6 million tourists last year, a 2.2 percent year-on-year increase driven by international visitors. 

Tourism still below pre-Covid levels 

Notably, overseas travellers surged threefold to 1.66 million, compared to just 552,334 last year.

However, domestic tourism has shown signs of stagnation. The number of Korean visitors reached 10 million this year, but this milestone was achieved 18 days later than in 2023.

Data from the Bank of Korea’s Jeju branch indicates that domestic tourist demand has recovered just 91 percent of pre-pandemic levels, while foreign tourism has exceeded pre-pandemic figures, reaching 116 percent .

And so, even Jeju’s government is considering measures to revitalise the casino industry and improve its economic contribution. 

In September 2024, a government official suggested implementing a renewable-licence system for foreigner-only casinos, replacing the current permanent permits, to encourage competition and innovation in the sector. But, Seoul is yet to take action on the request.