The Busan Education Office has established a collaborative body involving various organizations to proactively address issues of digital media overuse and dependence among youth, including smartphones, short-form videos, and online gaming.
On August 14, the Busan Education Office held the inaugural meeting of the 'Committee for Preventing Overdependence and Over-Immersion in Intelligent Information Services,' officially commencing its activities, the office announced on August 24.
The committee, chaired by the Deputy Superintendent of Education, consists of 15 members, including internal officials such as the Director of Education, the Director of Digital Future Education, and the Director of Student and Parent Support, as well as external experts.
External members include representatives from the Parent Association Federation, Busan Smart Rest Center, Busan-Ulsan Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center, Busan branch of the Korea Media Foundation, the Film Rating Board, the Game Management Committee, and the Korea Press Foundation.
The involvement of multiple organizations allows for a multifaceted approach, avoiding a narrow perspective.
The education office has established a one-stop support system connecting schools and specialized institutions for 'early detection, diagnosis, counseling, and treatment.' The education office will serve as the control tower, while specialized institutions will handle actual diagnosis and treatment.
The key players in early detection are homeroom teachers and parents. In elementary schools, homeroom teachers can identify signs of over-immersion by observing subtle changes in students' language habits during breaks. Following this, they will assess risk levels using diagnostic tools and counseling, and refer students to Wee Classes or youth counseling centers based on severity.
If treatment is necessary, specialized institutions will step in. For gaming over-immersion, relevant healing institutions will be involved, while dependence on smartphones and social media will be addressed by the Busan Smart Rest Center. The recent surge in cyber gambling issues will be managed by the Busan-Ulsan Gambling Problem Prevention and Healing Center, providing tailored treatment.
Currently, the self-reported surveys from students and parents have limitations in accurately assessing the scale of those at risk of overdependence. Therefore, the education office has prioritized building a proactive safety net rather than waiting for perfect statistical data.
Ahn Ho-bin, a senior official in the Digital Future Education Division of the Busan Education Office, emphasized the committee's core purpose, stating, "Digital over-immersion should not be viewed merely as an individual deviation. If students are struggling, it is our fundamental direction to actively assist them in finding solutions."
Ahn added, "Rather than focusing on precise criteria for overdependence or the number of at-risk individuals, it is essential to take proactive measures to help even a single child. Since schools and the education office alone cannot manage many aspects, it is crucial to foster a strong sense of community support involving families and local communities."
The committee will serve as an advisory body to set policy directions rather than a deliberative body with a separate budget. This is the first time the issue of 'overdependence and over-immersion' has been isolated and specialized, previously addressed as one of several topics within an annual 400 million won information ethics education program.
By uniting related institutions that previously collaborated individually and establishing a practical consultation channel, the education office plans to swiftly reflect the rapidly changing trends in intelligent information services into school policies.
The education office stated, "As digital education expands, we have reflected the voices from the field that responses to dysfunction must also be strengthened."
During the inaugural meeting, certificates were awarded, and a special workshop was held. Park Won-cheol, a chief judge at the Ulsan District Court who has handled numerous juvenile cases, led a lecture on 'Strategies for Preventing Digital Overdependence and Joint Response.' Judge Park highlighted the need for building a safety net involving families, schools, and communities while examining the realities of excessive media use among youth from a judicial and protective perspective.
Kim Seok-jun, the Superintendent of the Busan Education Office, stated, "The issue of digital over-immersion is not merely an individual deviation; it is a contemporary challenge that requires a robust defense network built collaboratively by families, communities, and specialized institutions. We will actively support our students in Busan to grow as healthy digital citizens through a one-stop integrated system."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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