South Korea probably has the most extreme gamer culture in the world, where 2.4% of the population aged 9-34 are addicted to videogames. South Korea also has the the biggest professional league in the world, and of course dedicated TV channels showing nothing but videogames.

“I guess I knew I was becoming addicted, but I couldn’t stop myself, I stopped changing my clothes. I didn’t go out. And I began to see myself as the character in my games.”

says Kim, recalled from a clinic where he was undergoing counseling. In 2005, 10 teenagers died from playing video games for a long period of time without a break. In Taegu, South Korea, a 28-year-old man died after playing an online game for over 50 hours without a break.

Seems like we westerners have a lot of catching up to do.

Read more here. (Washington Post)