Saying Goodbye to Internet and Smartphones for a While... 'Healing Camp' to Operate from July

11-Night 12-Day Internet and Smartphone Healing Camp for Middle and High School Students
Family Healing Camp for Elementary Students Also Offered... Includes Follow-Up Care
Intensive Operation During Summer Vacation from July, Free for Low-Income Families

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will operate healing camps for adolescents who are overdependent on the internet and smartphones.

On the 16th, the Ministry announced that it will hold a residential internet and smartphone healing camp for middle and high school students, and a family healing camp for elementary school students.

The healing camps provide programs that help adolescents at risk of overdependence develop self-management skills in places disconnected from smartphones and the internet. These camps are intensively conducted during the July-August vacation period, organized by the Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute, nationwide city and provincial youth counseling welfare centers, and city, county, and district youth counseling welfare centers.

According to the '2021 Youth Internet and Smartphone Usage Habit Survey' announced by the Ministry in May, about 226,000 youths, or 18%, belong to the overdependence risk group.

Overview of Residential Internet and Smartphone Healing Camps for Middle and High School Students by Region in 2021 (Data provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)

The internet and smartphone healing camps will be held 16 times from July to November, each lasting 11 nights and 12 days. They diagnose the individual overdependence level of middle and high school students and provide customized healing programs such as individual and group counseling and experiential activities based on the results. Parent education and family counseling are also offered to guide usage habits at home.

The family healing camps run for 2 nights and 3 days from July to October and are open to families with elementary school children. They help develop adolescents' self-regulation skills and resolve family conflicts caused by media overdependence through group counseling, parent education, and region-specific activities. After the program ends, follow-up support such as youth group counseling and parent education is provided to participating families for 1 to 2 months.

Applications are being accepted from June at local youth counseling welfare centers. Parents or adolescents who wish to participate can contact the local operating institutions (see attachment) or the Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Institute. Low-income families and single-parent family support recipients can participate free of charge, while other youths are required to pay a partial meal fee.

Before the start of the healing camps, Minister Jeong Young-ae of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will visit the National Youth Internet Dream Village in Muju, Jeollabuk-do, a permanent healing facility, on the afternoon of the 17th. The minister will meet with youths to listen to their difficulties caused by overdependence and offer encouragement. She will also inspect camp safety management and quarantine status and gather opinions from on-site leaders to enhance treatment effectiveness.

Minister Jeong said, "As the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs and time spent at home increases, the number of youths struggling with self-regulation due to media overdependence is rising," adding, "If families have difficulty guiding their children's internet and smartphone use at home, I hope they seek help from professional institutions such as participating in healing camps."

2021 Family Healing Camp Regional Operation Overview (Data provided by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family)

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.