ID :
209336
Mon, 09/26/2011 - 03:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209336
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Internet addiction a major new disorder: lawmaker
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Internet addiction is becoming a new major disorder in South Korea, especially among youth, as the number of people addicted to the Internet or computer is rapidly increasing, a lawmaker said Monday.
The number of Internet addiction cases reported steadily increased from slightly more than 70,000 in 2007 to 73,975 in 2009 and again to 74,646 last year, according to Rep. Yoo Jeong-bok of the ruling Grand National Party.
The number of Internet addiction cases this year has already reached 54,841, he said, citing related information from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.
The country has yet to recognize Internet addiction as a disorder so the number includes reported cases of problems believed to be linked with excessive use of the Internet or computer, such as impulse control disorder, Yoo said.
"We are beginning to see the dark side of our flashy title of a global IT leader and the world's most-wired nation. We need policy efforts to address the problem as it will lead to a major social issue if left unattended," the lawmaker said.
The young were especially vulnerable to the new disorder as 57 percent, or 43,307 out of all reported cases in 2010, were found in people aged 10-19. Nearly 96 percent of all cases were found in people aged 0-29 as the number of cases in children aged 0-9 reached 27,606, or 37 percent of the total.
The number of Internet addiction cases reported steadily increased from slightly more than 70,000 in 2007 to 73,975 in 2009 and again to 74,646 last year, according to Rep. Yoo Jeong-bok of the ruling Grand National Party.
The number of Internet addiction cases this year has already reached 54,841, he said, citing related information from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service.
The country has yet to recognize Internet addiction as a disorder so the number includes reported cases of problems believed to be linked with excessive use of the Internet or computer, such as impulse control disorder, Yoo said.
"We are beginning to see the dark side of our flashy title of a global IT leader and the world's most-wired nation. We need policy efforts to address the problem as it will lead to a major social issue if left unattended," the lawmaker said.
The young were especially vulnerable to the new disorder as 57 percent, or 43,307 out of all reported cases in 2010, were found in people aged 10-19. Nearly 96 percent of all cases were found in people aged 0-29 as the number of cases in children aged 0-9 reached 27,606, or 37 percent of the total.
