Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Discusses Strengthening Internet and Smartphone Overdependence Recovery Services After Shutdown Policy

Vice Minister Kim Kyung-sun Visits National Youth Internet Dream Village

Kim Kyung-sun, Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family, visited the Out-of-School Youth Support Center in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, on December 10 to inspect COVID-19 quarantine measures and toured the facility.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family is seeking ways to strengthen internet and smartphone overdependence healing services following the abolition of the Shutdown System.

On the 12th, Kim Kyung-sun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, will visit the National Youth Internet Dream Village located in Muju, Jeonbuk, a permanent healing facility for internet and smartphone overdependence. Vice Minister Kim will inspect the quarantine status of the youth residential healing facility and discuss effective ways to strengthen internet and smartphone overdependence healing services with field experts following the abolition of the Shutdown System starting this year.

The Internet Dream Village operates as a permanent healing facility offering integrated healing programs such as individual counseling, group counseling, cultural sensitivity activities, and experiential activities to restore confidence. Since its opening in 2014, it has operated healing programs for a total of 2,959 participants over 123 sessions. The participating youths showed reduced internet dependence and depression levels, while family adaptability and self-control improved.

Last year, the Daegu Youth Didim Center was opened, and an additional National Youth Treatment and Rehabilitation Center will be established in the Honam region in the future.

Vice Minister Kim Kyung-sun stated, "With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and the abolition of the game Shutdown System, the role of permanent specialized healing institutions for youths overdependent on the internet and smartphones has become more important. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will expand the foundation for providing healing services, strengthen the professionalism of these services, and continuously strive to offer various leisure activities to youths."

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