Gyeonggi Province Residents Struggling with Gaming Addiction, Call 1566-6356

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] The Gyeonggi Game Culture Center, operated by Gyeonggi Province, will launch the 'Gaming Overuse Counseling and Treatment Program' starting from the 29th.

The Gyeonggi Game Culture Center is a hub center dedicated to Gyeonggi Province's gaming culture promotion projects. The center plans to provide psychological counseling and treatment services to residents through the 'Gaming Overuse Counseling and Treatment Program'.

To this end, on the 23rd, the center signed a memorandum of understanding with eight private psychological counseling centers and Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center.

Applications for the Gaming Overuse Counseling and Treatment Program can be made through the website (gcon.or.kr/gcc) or by phone (1566-6356).

Website applications are available 24 hours, and phone counseling is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Upon completion of the application, experts in gaming and psychological counseling will provide consultation tailored to the applicant's characteristics.

Afterwards, if in-depth counseling is deemed necessary or requested by the user, referral to a psychological counseling center will be made.

At the psychological counseling center, users can receive in-depth psychological assessment and counseling services through dedicated counselors specialized in gaming.

When hospital treatment rather than psychological counseling is needed, medical care can be received through Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Centers (Suwon and Uijeongbu).

The Gaming Overuse Counseling and Treatment Program will operate as a differentiated program that goes beyond existing simple gaming overuse prevention and treatment, analyzing individual characteristics and providing consultation to offer youth career exploration opportunities related to gaming.

Regular training for dedicated counselors to enhance their understanding of gaming will be conducted continuously.

Through various training programs including literacy education for understanding the gaming industry and gaming culture, gaming overuse counseling model training, and career guidance education related to gaming, the plan is to cultivate counselors who meet the expectations of young people who enjoy gaming and develop Gyeonggi Province's specialized gaming counseling model.

A provincial official stated, "The Gaming Overuse Counseling and Treatment Program is not simply about preventing gaming, but will teach young people how to use games in a positive manner," adding "Residents experiencing problems due to gaming should not hesitate to contact the center."