中国驻韩大使馆官员唐亮于7月30日在《韩国时报》发表署名文章，针对韩国媒体宣传中国游客为韩国赌场增长动力的报道提出反对[1]。唐亮指出，中国法律对赌博实行"零容忍"，中国公民在海外参与赌博属违法行为[1]。
2025年1月至5月，访韩中国游客约256万人次，按年增长约25%[1]。韩国自2025年9月29日起对3人以上中国大型旅游团体实施免签入境试点政策，相关政策已延长至2026年底[1]。中国驻韩使馆认为，韩国赌场针对中国游客的招赌行为违反两国禁赌法律[1]。中方要求韩方从中韩友好大局出发，加强对赌场的监管规范，同时表示中方将加强对游客的教育引导[1]，并强调"己所不欲，勿施于人"[1]。
China's embassy in South Korea has publicly criticized South Korean media promotion of casinos to Chinese visitors. Tang Liang, an official at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, published a signed article in the Korea Herald on July 30 condemning the practice.[1] The diplomat emphasized that Chinese law maintains a "zero tolerance" policy toward gambling, making it illegal for Chinese citizens to participate in gambling activities overseas.[1]
The dispute centers on South Korea's casino operations targeting Chinese tourists, a market that has grown substantially in recent months. From January to May 2025, approximately 2.56 million Chinese tourists visited South Korea, representing a year-on-year increase of approximately 25 percent.[1] To facilitate such travel, South Korea implemented a pilot visa-waiver program on September 29, 2025, for organized Chinese tour groups of three or more people, a policy that has been extended through the end of 2026.[1]
China has called on South Korean authorities to strengthen regulatory oversight of casino operations that target its citizens. The Chinese side stated that it would not do unto others what it does not wish done unto itself, urging South Korea to approach the matter from the perspective of bilateral friendship.[1] Additionally, China indicated it would intensify educational outreach to its travelers regarding the legal consequences of engaging in gambling abroad.[1]