Addiction management centres
"I try to stop but I can't" is precisely the signal to get help.
What they cover
- Alcohol — drinking daily, or being unable to cut down.
- Gambling — including online gambling and sports betting, when debts build and you start hiding it.
- Drugs and substances
- Internet and smartphone dependence
- Family support — addiction is hard on families too.
How to use them
- Call an integrated addiction management support centre. Your health centre or 129 can locate one.
- Have a consultation. It is free and confidential.
- Where needed, you are referred for hospital treatment.
- Join a recovery programme or peer group.
- Families can also receive education and counselling.
Where to go
- 1899-0893 Korea Center on Gambling Problems
- 1577-0199 mental health helpline (24 hours)
- Your local integrated addiction support centre (ask your health centre)
- 129 Health and Welfare Call Centre
- 1577-1366 Danuri Call Centre (multilingual)
Questions people ask
Couldn't I just cut down a bit? If you cannot control it yourself, counselling is far quicker. Enduring it alone rarely lasts.
I have gambling debts. Debt and gambling must be tackled together. Consult 1899-0893 and 132 (Korea Legal Aid Corporation).
Will my employer find out? Counselling is confidential.
Work dinners with drinking are a burden. You may decline. Pressuring someone to drink is not acceptable. If needed, consult 1350.
Take care
If you have withdrawal symptoms — shaking hands, cold sweats, hallucinations, seizures — do not stop alone. It can be dangerous. Always consult medical staff. Illegal gambling sites frequently run a second scam promising to recover your losses. Never send more money. See scam-prevention.
Related
mental-health-welfare · addiction-help · suicide-prevention · scam-prevention · free-lawyer
Source
Ministry of Health and Welfare www.mohw.go.kr / As of 2026-08