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More than three out of 10 adolescent Koreans or 31.8 percent are so absorbed in cyber-surfing that they cannot control themselves from logging onto the Internet, a survey has found.
The study of 3,500 Internet users between 9 and 39 years old found that some 14 percent of minors are dangerously addicted to the Internet and need mental treatment and counseling to overcome it.
The number of junior Internet addicts is more than double that of adults. The survey conducted by the Korea Agency for Digital Opportunity and Promotion found that 2.1 percent of surveyed adolescents are in a dangerous state of Net addiction and need immediate treatment.
Some 11.9 percent of those surveyed are in a potentially dangerous condition, and need self-control counseling to prevent online addiction. Among adults, 1.5 percent are dangerously addicted to the Internet, while 7 percent are considered potential addicts.
In a survey on mobile phone addiction, 10.1 percent of adolescents said that they are addicted to using their cell phones, while 4.1 percent of adults said the same.
To combat the problem the Ministry of Information and Communication has decided to increase the number of counseling and treatment agencies for online addiction from the current five to 31. It will also operate courses to train professional counselors seven times a year, up from the current three.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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