[Opinion] The Lottery Craze

The largest prize in the history of the Korean lottery was 40.7 billion won. The lucky winner was a policeman who won the Lotto in April 2003 and was awarded 31.8 billion won after taxes.

Although his prize did not approach the global record of $113.4 million (approximately 113.4 billion won), it was nevertheless an extensive amount. At the time, he contributed billions of won to his police department, his son’s elementary school, various citizen’s groups, and media groups raising funds for charity purposes.

According to a December 2004 research study by the Prime Minister’s Lottery Commission, 57.5 percent of Korean adults have bought lottery tickets. Many yearn to win the lottery and buy tickets accordingly, but the probability of winning big is close to zero.

One psychologist analyzed, “Humans are not only restricted by punishment and force, but also through the allure of compensation,” and that human nature compels people to purchase lottery tickets. There is also a saying that, “Lotteries are government taxes for people that are ignorant of probability.”

Currently in Korea, 10 government institutions issue 25 types of lottery tickets. As if this was not enough, another type will be issued starting from next month. With the price of 1,000 won per ticket, and one million won grand prize, the new ticket has a smaller prize but a higher chance of success. The Lottery Commission states that this has the purpose of a balanced development of the lottery market, but it is hard for the government to avoid criticisms that it is leading speculations and heightening gambling spirits. “Balance” is merely a euphemism.

In any case we are living in a country where politics itself is speculative and a gamble. The power games and populist policies that stimulate the people are similar to the lottery in its bewildering qualities. As in the case of the “Lee Hae-chan golf incident,” it is also a type of speculation for entrepreneurs to gather around a political force. We are living in a “lottery republic” in so many ways.

Song Young-eon, Editorial Writer, youngeon@donga.com