young people and internet addiction in Korea

346 Pages·2010·1.24 MB·English

by  Young Soo Choi

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Social Policy for users of Information Technology:

Young people and Internet addiction in Korea

by

YoungSoo CHOI

A thesis submitted to
The University of Birmingham
For the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY

Institute of Applied Social Studies
School of Social Sciences
University of Birmingham
May 2005
University of Birmingham Research Archive

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ABSTRACT

The Internet has conferred many benefits, but it also has negative effects including
addiction patterns termed “Internet addiction”. Many studies have been inclined to
focus on discovering psychological symptoms. However, they have not usually
considered young people’s relationships, which can themselves lead to Internet
addiction. This study gathers the life experiences of young people with an ‘Internet
addiction pattern’ in order to understand better their relationships and circumstances.
South Korea was chosen as the main focus of this study.

From the Foucauldian perspective, the relationships produce power in new ways,
wherever they meet and whenever they talk, with knowledge through their abilities,
topics or information. This knowledge may categorise peers according to status and
ability to use the Internet. These factors activate a ‘power network’ in ‘their own world’.
As a result, Internet addiction situation is interpreted as a loss of balance in using the
Internet and the research findings demonstrate how this process is influenced by the
development of a set of power relations between young people within ‘their own world’.
The recommendations are included, mainly ways to participate in the young people’s
concerns and to relate to their lives so as to understand the real situation and reduce the
problems.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This thesis would not have been possible without the love of my parents, the consideration of
my friends, particularly Dongsun, and the support of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
I am grateful to everyone, most of all the young people who took part in this research and the
Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, which introduced me to young people.

Particular thanks to my supervisors, Mrs. Liz Ross and Dr. Bob Matthews, who led me with
warmth and consideration from the beginnings to the very last stage.
Thanks as well to my wife, Youngsook, who has supported me financially, as well as
psychologically; my son, Seongho, who encourage to me polish my work at the last stage
even when staying in hospital, and my daughter Jeongeun (Jenny) who always gives me
pleasure.

Lastly, my thanks go to the academic staff and students of the Institute of Applied Social
Studies (in the area of Social Policy and Social Work) for their support.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
(PROVERBS 1:7)
ABBREVIATIONS

APA The American Psychological Association
CIPC The Centre for Internet Addiction Prevention & Counselling
CYP The Commission on Youth Protection
DSM Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
IT Information Technology
KMRB The Korean Media Rating Board
MCT The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
MEHRD The Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development
MIC The Ministry of Information and Communication
NGO Non Government Organization
RCKY The Research Centre for Korean Youth
RPG Role Play Game
SMOE The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education
WCG World Cyber Games
CONTENTS
Page No.
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Chapter 2. Conceptualising of Internet addiction 9
2.1. Background 9
2.2. What is Internet addiction? 10
2.2.1. Emergence of the problems with the use of the Internet 10
2.2.2. The symptoms of Internet addiction 12
2.3. Who is likely to be addicted to the Internet? 17
2.4. Causes of Internet addiction 20
2.4.1. The attraction of the Internet itself 21
2.4.2. Internet addiction and theories of addiction 22
2.5. Summary 33
Chapter 3. Young people and the Environment of Internet
addiction 36
3.1. Introduction 36
3.2. Defining young people as the objective of this
research 38
3.3. Young people’s peer and family relationships 41
3.3.1. Peer relations among young people 41
3.3.2. Parenting and young people’s behaviour 50
3.4. Historical, cultural, and socio-economical
environment factors: South Korea 57
3.4.1. Confucianism and Korean parenting 57
3.4.2. Historical and cultural background 60
3.4.3. Economic policy driven by government 62
3.5. Summary 64
Chapter 4. Perspectives of power 66
4.1. Why is a power perspective needed? 66
4.2. Theoretical perspectives 69
4.2.1. Power in Marxism 69
4.2.2. The Elitist and Pluralist perspective 71
4.3. Using Foucault’s theory 72
4.3.1. Introduction to Foucault’s power perspective 72
4.3.2. Discourse and power 74
4.3.3. Foucault’s power theory 77
4.3.4. The shortcomings of Foucault’ perspectives 80
4.3.5. How the perspective of power can be used in this
research 82
4.4. Summary 85
Chapter 5. Methodology 87
5.1. Introduction 87
5.2. Ontological and epistemological background 88
5.3. ‘Qualitative research’ as the main method 91
5.4. Research question 92
5.5. Research Design 94
5.5.1. Preliminary survey and meetings 94
5.5.2. The Pilot Study 100
5.5.3. Updating the original design following the pilot study 103
5.5.4. Ethical issues and consents 105
5.6. The process of the main research 108
5.6.1. Young people and parent interviews 111
5.6.2. Focus meetings with psychiatrists 116
5.6.3. Case study for the CIPC 117
5.6.4. Exploration of the power relationships surrounding
young people 117
5.6.5. Understanding the role of the cyber police 118
5.6.6. Observation 118
5.6.7. Daily newspaper searching 120
5.6.8. Survey 121
5.7. Coding and analysis strategy 123
5.7.1. Strategy for the analysis 123
5.7.2. The process of analysis 125
5.8. Summary 129

Chapter 6. Young people and Internet addiction 130
6.1. The trend towards Internet addiction 130
6.2. Internet addiction and on-line game items
(equipment) 140
6.3. Shifting degrees of Internet addiction 148
6.4. Consideration of the term ‘Internet addiction’ 155
6.5. Summary 158
Chapter 7. Power relationships in relation to Internet addiction 160
7.1. Background of power relationships - Repressive
circumstances 160
7.2. Power relationships among young people
(peers/friends) 162
7.2.1. Emergence of new words related to dominance and
repressiveness 162
7.2.2. Pursuit of power/knowledge for the Internet 164
7.2.3. Exercising power through the games 170
7.3. Family relationships and Internet addiction
situations 185
7.3.1. Parents’ forcing their children to learn computer skills
earlier 185
7.3.2. Leaving using the Internet to children’s discretion –
enjoyable use stage 186
7.3.3. Recognition of the need for control in using the Internet 188
7.4. Summary 212
Chapter 8. Circumstances fostering Internet addiction 214
8.1. The influence of companies on young people through
the Internet 214
8.1.1. How companies involve young people 214
8.1.2. Possibility of targeting mainly young people as a
business strategy 217
8.1.3. Ways in which companies influence young people 220
8.2 Internet addiction; the Government’s role and its 236
record
8.2.1. Promoting the supply and use of Information 236
Technology
8.2.2 Government’s methods of combating Internet addiction 237
8.2.3. Why the protection of young people has received so little 247
attention
8.2.4. Resistance to controlling the trade in items 254
8.3. Summary 257
Chapter 9 Discussion and conclusion 259
9.1. Acknowledgement of the power mechanism 259
9.2. Interpretation of Internet addiction situations 262
9.3. Power relationships and factors causing loss of 268
balance
9.3.1. The social circumstances prepared as distal cause 268
9.3.2. The relational process as a moulder of the proximal 271
cause
9.4. Evaluation of this research 278
9.5. Implications of this research: recommendations 282
APPENDICES
1. Young’s measuring tool (1996) 288
2. Wang’s measuring tool (2000) 289
3. CIPC measuring tool (2002) 290
4. Letter asking for cooperation of the research. 294
5. Interview method design 295
6 Questionnaire for SURVEY (A+B+C) and young
interviewee (A+B) 299
7 Interviewees with young people and parents 301
REFERENCES 306