By Isaac Kim
Hong Young-jin (alias), a 16-year-old high school freshman, is a “smartphone addict.”
Every morning he wakes to the alarm on his phone and checks his Twitter and Facebook account. His biggest enjoyment comes from playing games on his phone while he walks from place to place.
What is the reason Hong never lets go of his smart phone? His answer is quite shocking. “You can do anything with a smartphone. Honestly, I can live without friends or family, but I can’t live without my phone.”
One out of six adolescents was found to have been addicted to their smartphones.
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family conducted a survey of 1.7 million students from elementary to high school, which showed 240,000 (18 percent) are addicted to their smartphones.
More than 200,000 who felt nervous or restless without their phones were categorized as “caution,” while 30,000 who could not eat or sleep without their phones were categorized as “danger.”
The number of addicts grows larger as the students’ age increases.
Due to the alarming rate of smartphone junkies, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family decided to launch a program to help these adolescents through counseling and treatment centers.
Addiction specialists will visit each school offering counseling and help. Those in the “danger” category will be placed in special institutions for emergency treatment beginning this year.
Experts said that with the progression of technology and modern convenience, education on these inventions must progress as well, emphasizing moderation of these technologies.
Seoul National University’s Education Department Prof. Kim Dong-il said, “Just like it says, smartphones must be used smartly, and education programs must begin immediately. A standardized awareness program must quickly be developed.”