• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.219-227
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to review physiological mechanisms of internet addiction and to construct a theoretical framework for cognitive behavioral therapy for internet addicts. Methods: We searched for relevant literature in the PubMed and RISS databases using the terms "internet addiction", "internet game addiction", "internet abuser", and "online game". Only English, full-text articles published from 2000 to 2015 were included in this review of physiological indicators of internet addiction. Finally, 12 articles were selected for review. Results: The theoretical framework developed based on the review proposes that excessive internet use itself may induce physiological stress responses with an increase of stress-related hormones and neurotransmitters. Prolonged abnormal responses of these physiological features produce negative structural and functional changes in the prefrontal cortex, which is mainly involved in cognitive and executive functions. These changes may result in decreased cognitive function. As a stressor, excessive internet use leads to transforming voluntary use into involuntary, habitual use and thus promotes the development of internet addiction. Conclusion: The proposed theoretical framework encompasses cognitive processes that may contribute to the effects of internet use-induced physiological stress on internet addiction. We believe that this framework has important implications for developing cognitive behavioral strategies for internet addicts.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.133-144
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• 2015

This study aims to establish the concepts of overindulgence and addiction and present proposals on game policies and marketing for game companies by identifying relationship among game product loyalty, game company loyalty, and game company profitability from the psychological viewpoint (game overindulgence and addiction) of online and mobile gamers. Accordingly, this study has the following implications. First, government should realize the fact even gamers are confused over differences in such concepts concerning game and have processes to reestablish game overindulgence and game addiction and follow policies to establish such images. Second, loyalty to game products should be enhanced by highlighting the features to buy items and additional contents through game networks as well as features to share contents and records generated within games for those with overindulgence. Moreover, companies should strengthen publicity to increase loyalty to game companies. Conversely, the focus should be on game product image rather than corporate image. Third, game companies should engage in strategies for the game's direction, development, and marketing to establish positive brand based on game products and help become the brand of the corporation itself. Fourth, there is a necessity to increase gamers and study their satisfaction rate based on game development and efficient marketing.

• Korean journal of communication and information
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• v.37
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• pp.342-376
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• 2007

This study attempted to explore relationship between self-identities in real space and in virtual space and to inspect empirically both self-identities' influence on addiction and society maladaptation of online role playing game users. The verified results through this study are summarized as follows. First, both self-identity in real space and self-identity in virtual space represent strong interrelationship. In detail, the user with strong self-identity in real space shows strong self-identity in virtual space. Second, self-identities in two spaces have the negative interrelationship with game addiction and maladaptation. Whether real space or virtual space, the higher self-identity, the lower the levels of game addiction and maladaptation. Especially, self-identity in real space appeared an influential variable determining the level of addiction and maladaptation. Although self-identity in virtual space have not an independent influence, it has the possibility to effect complementary with self-identity in real space. This fact means that virtual space is not the place where the user with weak self-identity in real space can discovers the ideal self. Because they also experience the negative recognition about oneself in virtual space.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.53-64
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• 2013

This study investigated how parents' parenting attitude and youth's subjective class identification influence on game addiction. Total 177 youths from 16 to 24 participated an online survey. According to the results, parents' excessive expectation and youths' high level of self-control were associated with low level of game addiction. We divided a total into two groups; low subjective class identification group vs. high subjective class identification group based on the subjective class identification(SCI) scores. In low SCI group, excessive expectation and high level of self-control were associated with low level of game addiction. On the contrary, in high SCI group, only interference was associated with low level of game addiction. Parents' certain parenting attitude variables and individuals' level of SCI is strongly related to addictive use of game media and other various type of new media.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2011

Online game market accounts for 56.4% of entire game industry in Korea. MMORPG games account for a great part of online game market which have 45.27%. However, most of them are wholly reliant on their subjective criteria - not general rule or standard in the planning and developing process. For this reason, they can be easily misunderstood imitation game which has no difference or creativeness from masterpiece. In this paper to solve this problem especially deals with the quantification of flow through analysis of MMORPG to propose common information or method of quantitative analysis. The method of quantitative analysis which deals with the quantification of flow through analysis of successful MMORPG verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.557-569
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• 2014

As the number of Chinese students in Korea has significantly increased, the problems of students' life and academic achievement has appeared obviously. Utilizing an analysis on the relationship between the life satisfaction of Chinese students in Korea and the degree of internet addiction, the purposes of this research are to improve the quality of Chinese students' life and to contribute to the growth of Chinese students in Korea. A questionnaire-type survey was conducted on 350 Chinese college students in Daegu. The results of this study are as follows: First, the used time on internet games, chat and on-line TV differs from gender, the duration of internet games and their academic performance. Second, there are significant differences by gender, Korean ability, and academic performance in the life satisfaction of Chinese students in Korea. Third, Chinese college students in Korea are more addicted in the internet than Korean or Chinese college students at their own country. Fourth, the longer playing online game, the longer watching online TV, the less communicating with the Koreans, and the less satisfying with non -study related activities, the more Chinese college students of studying in Korea are addicted in the internet.

• Asia pacific journal of information systems
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.165-180
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• 2019

As game industry prospers, the negative side of games becomes highlighted as well as its contributions to economy growth. In spite of strong arguments for the necessity to regulations as a means to decrease addiction or overindulgence, research has produced future suggestions rather than quantifiable evidence. In this paper, we propose adopting a simulation approach in addition to quantitative approaches to better understand optimal regulatory levels since a simulation approach can visualize unexpected side effects of regulations. In this study, we suggest the application of an agent-based model (ABM) as a smart service to measure the effects of regulatory policies. We review cases applying ABM in various domains and consider the possibility of using an ABM to understand the effectiveness of web board-game regulations. We find that the ABM approach would be useful in several areas, such as the analysis of regulatory effects that reflect a variety of characteristics, the measurement of micro-regulatory effects, and the simulation of regulations.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.11
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• pp.223-239
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• 2016

We study online gaming regulations and examine the reactance and attitude of the targeted group. To be specific, we focus on the 'Shutdown Law' due to its scope and magnitude of its influence. The Shutdown Law was enforced to prevent adolescence's immersion in or addiction to online gaming; however, its effectiveness has yet to reach a consensus. Our empirical findings show that the reactance to the regulation is stronger as game usage increases; surprisingly the effect of game usage on reactance weakens among the affected adolescence's group, compared to the adult counterpart. Furthermore, heavy users in the targeted group are more likely to play online gaming to mingle with their peers, and thus more likely to play other activities that friends participate in. These results suggest that online games play a role to cultivate peer-culture among adolescence and facilitate their communication.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.321-329
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• 2015

The purpose of the present study is to understand the cultural aspects of the games through the logic and methods of phenomenological study for online games and to propose phenomenological research methods to many researchers performing various studies on the characteristics, addiction, culture, nature, features and types of the players. In particular, the way was investigated to study the game culture through the logic and methods of phenomenological study. Phenomenological research methods will help how to understand the game as a way to understand the cultural context of the specific and vivid life of gamers experience and human reality. This study is expected to inspire continuously more interesting and persistent phenomenological studies of many researchers with interests in the new research methods.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1432-1440
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• 2013

In spite of advantages to using internet, but there are many adverse effects. The most well-known negative effects include internet addiction, personal information infringement, copyright violation, spread of harmful information, cyber bullying, online fraud, hacking and virus distribution, and online prostitution. Until now, the government and public organization strived to prevent and reduce the negative effects but have faced limitations. In accordance with, one of the measures the solve the problems caused by internet is to strengthen the internet ethics education. This study aims to consider and analyze the negative effects of internet and provide measures to promote internet ethics education to prevent and reduce such effects.