게임의 “중독” 담론(談論)에 관한 소고(小考)

A Brief Study of Discussions on “the Game Addiction” in Korea

Recently, lots of discussions on “Game addiction or Excessive game use” are accomplished in our society. Discussions especially focused on problems that is believed to be associated with excessive on-line game use. The focus of discussions is whether game addiction regarded as a target of cure on a kind of behavioral addiction and how to solve problems related to excessive game use. In Korea in the field of mental health, a majority opinion is “excessive game or Internet use” regarded as a kind of behavioral addiction. And it regarded as that approached by the subject of treatment. But a point of view like that is not an internationally certified notion. In the field of psychiatry, whether the gaming has “tolerance” and “withdrawal” - as common symptoms of “addiction” - or not hasn't proved scientifically yet. Thus, it is difficult to affirm that the game is the subject of addiction. Of course, it is difficult to make a denial of some games have excessive violence and other negative factors. But, even if there exist some negative factors, it is difficult to affirm that negative factors influenced to gamer and cause pathology phenomenon or social deviancy. However, if there exist excessive negative factors, there is the possibility of negative influence to gamer. Therefore, in discussions on game, it focused on search solutions to problems of excessive game use. In order to solve these problems, above all, it is necessary to need gamer and game contents provider's own efforts to solve problems related to excessive game use. And it is also asked state and society's in-depth attention and continuous efforts to solve such problems.