This image shows a service malfunction of KakaoTalk caused by a fire at a building of SK C&C in Pangyo, just south of Seoul, on Oct. 15, 2022. (Yonhap)

IKSAN, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — Police arrested members of an illegal gambling ring last Sunday, partly aided by a major outage at mobile messenger KakaoTalk.

Outside an illegal gambling den located within a commercial building in Iksan, North Jeolla Province, a man stood guard.

When a stranger came close to the gambling den, he posted a warning message in the gambling ring’s KakaoTalk chat room.

Unfortunately for those involved in the illicit game, the message could not be delivered as the mobile messenger suffered a massive malfunction.

The police unhurriedly opened the door and stepped into the gambling den since the gamblers inside the building had no idea they were approaching.

Most of the gamblers inside the building turned out to be middle-aged housewives.

“In general, when police raid a gambling den, someone blocks the door, so detectives have to use force to enter,” police said.

“However, this time, they all sat together and concentrated on gambling.”

M. H. Lee ([email protected])