INTERNET

addicts

MUJU, SOUTH
KOREA

It's the summer holidays and a group

of teenage boys are staying at a camp
in a village in the centre of the country
for the three weeks. They suffer from
a new and dangerous health problem.
Their problem is Internet addiction.
The government set up the National
Center for Youth Internet Addiction
Treatment and 5,000 teenagers EPIDEMIC
came last year.

Over 90% of the population have

fast, cheap internet access at
home. The country is internet-mad
and playing online games is the
favourite national sport. The
result is an epidemic of internet
addiction, especially among young
people. One in ten or more young
people has an internet addiction.

LEAVING THE VIRTUL

WORLD

The government has

programmes to help internet
addicts. At the Muju camp,
teenage boys have to leave the
virtual world and interact with
other people. They don't play
games online.

WORLDWIDE
PROBLEM

Internet addiction isn't only a

problem in South Korea. The
problem is worldwide. Many
people are spending more and
more time per day online.

THE INTERNET, ADDICTION, AND

GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS.
HOW HARMFUL IS SERIOUS SURFING?