To tackle the issue of smartphone addiction, the government has been making various efforts, such as providing education programs at schools and issuing counseling guidelines for high-risk people. (image: Kobiz Media / Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — One out of five South Koreans experienced excessive dependence on smartphones last year, a poll showed Wednesday, with the ratio increasing every year.
According to the survey by the Ministry of Science and ICT, 19.1 percent of people aged between three and 69 fell into the potentially at-risk or high-risk addiction categories in 2018.
Those considered at risk of addiction experience physical and mental withdrawal symptoms during their everyday life and often put smartphone use as a top priority in their lives.
The portion increased from 17.8 percent in 2016 and 18.6 percent in 2017 the ministry said.
By age, the portion of addiction-prone smartphone users under the age of seven came to 20.7 percent in 2018, with such respondents in their 60s coming to 14.2 percent, sharply up from 11.7 percent in 2016.
To tackle the issue of smartphone addiction, the government has been making various efforts, such as providing education programs at schools and issuing counseling guidelines for high-risk people.
The poll was conducted on a total of 28,575 people between August and October of last year.
(Yonhap)
