Polymarket Ends Korean-Language Service, Hides Korea Markets From South Korean Users

Polymarket, the global blockchain-based prediction market, has ended Korean-language support and stopped displaying Korea-related prediction markets to users in South Korea. The move is being interpreted as a preemptive step to avoid a full access block as regulators review whether the service constitutes gambling and police investigate local users.

As of July 29, Korean had disappeared from the language-selection menu on the Polymarket website. Previously, users in South Korea were automatically directed to a Korean-language page without changing any settings. The site now defaults to English. Korea-related prediction markets tied to domestic politics, economic indicators and sports have also become difficult to find in search and recommendation feeds.

The Korea-related contracts themselves do not appear to have been shut down. On Polymarket's global page, markets such as whether North and South Korea will hold direct talks this year and South Korea's third-quarter economic growth rate remain visible. The company appears to have limited exposure of those markets only for users in South Korea while keeping global trading and existing contracts intact.

Industry participants say Polymarket scaled back its localized services with South Korean regulatory scrutiny in mind. On July 6, the Broadcasting Review Subcommittee gave the company a chance to present its position as it examined Polymarket's legality and operating model. After reviewing the submitted materials, the panel plans to decide whether to seek corrective measures, including blocking access.

At the time, the subcommittee told Bloomingbit that Polymarket could be subject to review if it provided Korean-language services and marketed to users in South Korea. Because the platform lets users stake real money and profit from the outcome of specific events, authorities say it could be viewed as a new type of gambling site. Korean-language support and the visibility of Korea-related markets have therefore emerged as key factors in the regulatory assessment.

A police investigation is also underway. The Gangwon Provincial Police Agency, acting at the request of the National Police Agency, is investigating South Korean Polymarket users on suspicion of gambling. South Korean users who access illegal overseas gambling sites and place bets can face punishment even if the servers and operators are located abroad.

South Korea has not yet been designated as one of Polymarket's officially restricted countries. It is not included on Polymarket's published list of 39 restricted jurisdictions. By ending Korean-language support and removing Korea-related markets from local screens at the same time, the company appears to be emphasizing that it is not actively marketing to South Korean users in an effort to lower the risk of an access block. Polymarket has not issued an official statement explaining the change.

An official at the Broadcasting Review Subcommittee said the review was still underway and that the panel was currently receiving Polymarket's statement. No timeline has been set for further action, the official added. The service change appears to have been Polymarket's own decision, separate from the panel's review.