The new scandal in town is that of “The Sea Story”, which runs more than 12,000 slot machine outlets across South Korea. The problem isn’t necessarily the fact that they run them, it is the problem that corruption and greed have made it what it seems to be. The slot machines have completely changed South Korea since they came into business in 2005 – and not for the better. Gambling and poverty have worsened, as the games can be very addicting and the people of South Korea are getting hooked. They are spending money they already didn’t have, and are getting into massive amounts of debt.  

The President of South Korea is under fire, as it seems that his nephew Roh Ji-won used his influence to help a certain gambling slot machine game business win government approval. He served as managing director of Woojyun Systec, which has made a lot of money off of the distribution of slot machines throughout South Korea. The president has denied the allegations, and the senior presidential secretary of civil affairs said confirmed that sentiment.  

Since Roh has taken office, he has pushed the slot machine industry, so that it is now a $9.1 billion industry in their country. It is roughly 10% of the country’s total budget,  with the slot machines bringing in as much as $18 billion. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office is planning on bringing in a dedicated team to investigate the allegations regarding the illegal slot machines. "We will expand a probe and look into all kinds of allegations,” they stated.

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