Choi Byung-hwan (pictured) has been appointed new chairman of South Korea’s National Gambling Control Commission.
That is according to an announcement on the commission’s website, citing a ceremony held on Tuesday.
He is a former deputy minister at national-government level, and one of 11 members of the commission to be appointed by the office of the country’s prime minister, per local media reports.
They cited the organisation saying Mr Choi would lead the body in its work to oversee the “healthy development” of the nation’s gambling industry.
They quoted Mr Choi stating the commission would work to enhance consumer protection to ensure citizens were safe from “negative side effects” of the gambling industry.
There are 17 casinos registered with the Korea Casino Association, but only one, Kangwon Land, is permitted to serve local players. The rest are authorised to admit only foreign players.

