Spectators at LetsRun Park Seoul in Gwacheon on the afternoon of Aug 25. were watching a horse racing event. Most of them were in their 20s and 30s. /Jung Chang-kyung

On Sep 9, a new data showed that the number of 20-30-year-olds visiting horse racing tracks in South Korea has more than doubled over the past five years. According to analysis by the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), based on SK Telecom location data, the proportion of young adults attending the country’s three main horse racing tracks—Seoul, Busan·Gyeongnam, and Jeju—rose from 10.8% in 2019 (from a survey of 928 participants) to 22.1% in 2022 (around 267,500 people), and 24.4% (roughly 359,900 people) in 2023. This increase is largely due to the affordability of attending and the simplicity of the games. However, some in this age group have also reported issues with gambling addiction, with some even taking out loans after losing their savings on bets. Experts believe the rise in young attendees could be linked to frustrations with unemployment.

A recent visit to LetsRun Park Seoul in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, highlighted the growing presence of 20-30-year-olds. Lee, a 22-year-old university student, shared that he visits the track every weekend, saying, “For just 2,000 won, I can enjoy the excitement of watching real horse races and relieve stress by placing small bets.” Kim, 24, who came with members of his university club, added, “I used to think horse racing was for older people, but I was surprised to see so many people my age, and even families with children.” Choi, a 27-year-old nurse, explained that she often comes to the track for dates, noting, “It’s affordable and fun, and the games are easy to follow, more so than baseball.”

However, some young people have reported developing horse racing addictions. While KRA regulations cap individual bet tickets at 100,000 won ($74), this rule is often loosely enforced, leading to large losses through cross-betting. Some argue that horse racing has essentially become gambling for the younger generation. Addiction counseling groups have received numerous calls for help, such as one person in their 20s who had accumulated 15 million won ($11,100) in debt. Despite their parents paying off 10 million won of it, they found themselves back in debt. Another student admitted, “I lost my tuition and borrowed money, but I can’t stop.” Searching “horse racing” on social media leads to numerous illegal betting services promising “high odds” and “full match predictions.” A university student struggling with addiction shared, “I use these illegal services because I feel like if I bet more, I might hit it big.”

Experts link the appeal of horse racing to the popularity of short-form content, which is favored by younger generations. Han Nam-hee, a professor at Korea University’s School of International Sports, said, “Horse racing is fast-paced and intense, which resonates with the short-form culture that young people enjoy.” Lim Choong-hoon, a professor at Seoul National University’s Department of Physical Education, added, “In difficult economic times and with a tough job market, young people are more likely to turn to risky hobbies like gambling.” He stressed the need for public education and preventive measures, given that horse racing operates under a relatively regulated framework.

A KRA representative stated, “The KRA runs addiction counseling and illegal gambling reporting centers, and we will enforce betting limits while closely monitoring high-risk groups through electronic cards.”