A survey showed that 7.9% of local adolescents suffer from smartphone over-dependence, while 5.4% exhibit signs of internet game addiction.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the National Naju Hospital revealed these survey results during a symposium held on November 5 at the Gwangju National Science Museum to mark its 70th anniversary, under the theme "Scientific Understanding of Youth Behavioral Addiction and Recovery-Centered Response Strategies."

The survey was conducted by the BARO (Behavioral Addiction Recovery & Observation) Clinic for Children and Adolescents at National Naju Hospital, targeting 1,061 middle and high school students in the Gwangju and South Jeolla Province regions from June to December of last year.

Based on self-reported questionnaires, the prevalence rates of behavioral addictions were analyzed at 5.4% for internet game addiction and 2.8% for gambling problems.


Compared to the first survey conducted in 2024 involving 855 students, the prevalence rate of internet game addiction remained unchanged at 5.4%, while gambling problems decreased slightly from 3.3%.

Smartphone over-dependence, a category newly added in the second survey conducted last year, showed a prevalence rate of 7.9%.

In particular, the risk of internet game addiction was 5.3 times higher among male students than female students, and the risk of gambling problems was 3.3 times higher.

(Photo provided by Yonhap News TV, provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Yonhap News)