In Korea, a Boot Camp Cure for Web Obsession

[gagquin]

In Korea, a Boot Camp Cure for Web Obsession

MOKCHEON, South Korea — The compound — part boot camp, part rehab center — resembles programs around the world for troubled youths. Drill instructors drive young men through military-style obstacle courses, counselors lead group sessions, and there are even therapeutic workshops on pottery and drumming.

But these young people are not battling alcohol or drugs. Rather, they have severe cases of what many in this country believe is a new and potentially deadly addiction: cyberspace.

They come here, to the Jump Up Internet Rescue School, the first camp of its kind in South Korea and possibly the world, to be cured.

South Korea boasts of being the most wired nation on earth. In fact, perhaps no other country has so fully embraced the Internet. Ninety percent of homes connect to cheap, high-speed broadband, online gaming is a professional sport, and social life for the young revolves around the "PC bang," dim Internet parlors that sit on practically every street corner.

But such ready access to the Web has come at a price as legions of obsessed users find that they cannot tear themselves away from their computer screens.

Compulsive Internet use has been identified as a mental health issue in other countries, including the United States. However, it may be a particularly acute problem in South Korea because of the country's nearly universal Internet access.

It has become a national issue here in recent years, as users started dropping dead from exhaustion after playing online games for days on end. A growing number of students have skipped school to stay online, shockingly self-destructive behavior in this intensely competitive society.

+iNfo@

.

[Bolt_Gundam510]

well if that's the case then, what do we have. i bearly get on the net during the week when i am working. but sadly in december getting closer to the christmas day we are going to go 7 days for nearly 2 to 3 weeks stright. i might drop dead from exhaustion from working to hard forget the gameing world.

[dock98]

i am retired and have barely enough time to surf.are all these people on welfare.put them to work instead of boot camp.let them volunteer for community service or something.