According to a joint report on Internet usage of 1.81 million students by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the education ministry, 89,755, or 4.9 percent, were deemed at risk of falling into cyber addiction.
Of those, 23,085 were put in the high-risk category, while 66,670 were considered potential risks.
The students were in fourth grade in elementary school, their first year of middle school or their first year of high school. High schoolers showed a higher percentage of Internet addiction than younger students.
The Ministry of Gender Equality said it plans to offer counseling and necessary treatment to young Internet addicts in cooperation with local hospitals and community counseling centers.
The ministry will provide up to 500,000 won (US$457.50) for treatments and also run camps for addicts. (A045//KR-IFB/O001)
(*)
Editor: Ella Syafputri
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
