It seems the overseas interest in this tragedy/outrage has prompted the government to act:
From next year, gamers and other Internet addicts will be able to install free software programs into their laptops to limit their access time to the Internet, the Office of the Prime Minister said Monday.
The plan was unveiled following the increase in addicts here, which, according to the government, has reached approximately 2 million. However, industry experts say the real figure is much higher.
The government will make available two types of software aimed at limiting bloggers’ hours online – a consensual shut-down program and Internet Fatigue, a program designed to make gamers become bored as time goes by.
Under the consensual shut-down program, bloggers can set the days or hours they can access the Internet.
Allllllrighty then.
Hopefully the government won’t be enacting measures to stop people from marrying pillows anytime soon.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
I wonder what effect stereoscopic displays will have on addictive gaming. I would imagine the added dimension would greatly increase the immersive power, making games an even more potent substitute for reality. Then the next step is desktop or headmounted VRDs, with the 3D effect encompassing your full field of vision. Why bother with the confines of reality any longer when you can live in any world you choose?
I blame Japan™.
My goodness! Carrying that anime-pillow around all day would just be a nuisance!
I was in Japan last week and couldn’t believe the anime-manga-yaoi that people were reading and purchasing in the the store – in most countries you would be “locked up” for possessing that stuff.
But everyone to their own liking.
“From next year, gamers and other Internet addicts will be able to install free software programs into their laptops to limit their access time to the Internet, the Office of the Prime Minister said Monday.”
I already have that software program. It’s called Internet Explorer.
That chap getting ‘married to a pillow’ story is hilarious. I had a serious, serious WTF moment when I read that article.
On the ‘internet addicts’ story I wish that many people in this country would be a little less conformist in how they spend their leisure time. At least the pillow marrying guy is being a bit more original! It beats drinking himself to death (ajeoshi’s fav), going to the hairshop (ajumma’s fav) and video games for the younger people.
Korea actually is becoming a lot more diverse and Koreans more interesting by taking up proper hobbies. Photography is very popular, I see lots of young and old folks in my neighbourhood carrying instruments, many of my students are really into creative activities and the arts. I don’t know if I’d consider marrying pillows a ‘hobby’, but at least he has an interest in something outside of Kartrider, Starcraft and World of Warcraft.
I wish the pillow marriage dude and his (no doubt) very cuddly wife many years of happiness together and sincerely hope they can find an understanding dry cleaner.
Sadly, this isn’t the first case of a Korean couple’s baby dying while they are out playing computer games. http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2005/08/31/fear_of_excessive_game_playing_on_net_rises_in_s_korea/
I fear it will not be the last time either.
‘Korea actually is becoming a lot more diverse and Koreans more interesting by taking up proper hobbies.’ keith
perhaps an arrogant a-hole such as yourself can teach them how to make basmati rice w thousands of herbs and spices.
Because as we all know, people who know they’re addicted to the internet will VOLUNTARILY install a program limiting their time to the internet.
The only way this works is if someone’s out there enforcing the rules. Given the lack of enforcement in everything else – traffic, bootleg DVD sales, totally illegal private English lessons – I see no worry here.
Darwin rules.
Chris, you might be surprised to know that there is a program where gambling addicts can voluntarily put themselves on a do-not-serve list on casinos. Link
Even addicts are not addicted constantly, all the time.
I didn’t find out until just before I left that you could prepay PC room cards.
Somebody with a problem, and with enough awareness to realize it and want to cut down, could budget themselves that way.
Mr. Koehler,
Can you please link the article that you quoted from? Specifically, I want to know if the article directly references foreign media coverage of internet addiction, or if that’s your own conclusion.
I understand that this is an aid to help those who are aware of their problems and actually want a fix but….
Why would anyone actually addicted to online gaming even install the software?
Maybe in a fit of self loathing, they’ll download it, install it, and…
half an hour later remove it when they want to have their gaming fix.
Or just go to a gaming cafe…this is Korea after all.
For those that are not diehard addicts, it’s like putting a kitchen timer next to your pc. For those who are diehards, it won’t mean squat, unless the software instigates a fit of rage and they end up trashing the pc.
I don’t think the people in this Ministry really knows what to do and are just doing this as a public relations feel good thing.
<- This from a recovering WoW addict. The number of times i've uninstalled and reinstalled the game…
Granfalloon: My bad — here you are:
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2010/03/116_62386.html
And it’s my own conclusion.
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