One million Korean smartphone users 'at high risk of addiction'

Subway passengers use their smartphones. State data shows more than one million South Koreans are addicted to the devices. / Korea Times file

By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo

More than one million South Koreans are smartphone addicts who face the risk of developing depression, insomnia or other health problems unless they receive immediate consultation or treatment, according to state data released on Sunday.

The National Information Society Agency (NIA) said 1,042,000 people were at “high risk of addiction” in 2016, up 1.6 percent from the previous year.

Teenagers (aged 10-19) made up the biggest portion of 30.6 percent, followed by preschoolers (3-9) at 17.9 percent, adults under 60 at 16.1 percent and adults over 60 at 11.7 percent.

Messenger apps were the No.1 culprit for addiction, followed by games, web surfing and social media.

High-risk addicts refer to people who use smartphones for more than 5 hours 15 minutes a day.

Their diagnostic criteria include persistent smartphone use despite recurrent physical or psychological side effects, continued unsuccessful attempts to reduce smartphone use, and symptoms of anxiety, dysphoria or irritability after a period of withdrawal from use, according to the NIA.

Those who do not receive proper treatment can develop depression, insomnia or memory loss, said the agency.

The NIA runs 18 consulting centers to help smartphone addicts.