Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency are officially kicking off their Busan Game Over-immersion Counseling and Treatment Center project for this year.

Since its inception in 2015, the center has evolved to match our changing digital landscape, standing as the only local government-led facility in the nation to offer a comprehensive 'one-stop professional support system' that covers prevention, counseling, and medical treatment.

To stay ahead of the curve, the center is doubling down on prevention programmes for general student users this year, aiming to instill healthy gaming habits through expanded, hands-on field education.

They have shared some of their most poignant success stories, highlighting how professional intervention—backed by crucial family support—can genuinely turn lives around.

Take 'A', a sixth-grader, who found himself in constant friction with his family due to excessive gaming hours and spending. Through the center, he rebuilt trust with his guardians, established manageable gaming rules, and combined this with medical treatment to find a much calmer daily routine.

Then there is 'B', a first-year middle school student who had stopped talking to her family entirely. Counseling helped her process her emotions, and she eventually found a new sense of achievement in Jiu-Jitsu. She’s now even eyeing a future in sports.

Even adults aren't exempt from these struggles. 'C', an adult struggling with job-hunting stress, relied on gaming as a crutch. After learning better stress management techniques and undergoing professional treatment, they managed to recover their daily life and have since earned new certifications to pursue fresh goals.

Furthermore, the Creative Game Culture Class will see a 12% boost, running 190 sessions this year. They are also launching a 'Game Life Balance-up' programme tailored for students and, in the second half of the year, will pilot a healing camp in collaboration with the Game Culture Foundation, incorporating music, physical education, and humanities to help build self-regulation.

To ensure no one is left behind, local access remains a priority. The 'My Neighborhood Counseling Room' initiative (operating in Sasang-gu, Saha-gu, and Jung-gu) continues to provide support through local partnerships. For those needing psychiatric care, the center offers comprehensive psychological testing and covers treatment costs up to 70% of the patient's share, capped at 1 million won per person.

Kim Tae-yeol, President of the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency, noted, 'The center has consistently refined its preventive and counseling frameworks by listening to the voices on the ground. We remain committed to helping citizens cultivate a healthy, balanced gaming lifestyle through diverse programmes and expert guidance.'

For more details, you can visit the Busan Game Over-immersion Counseling and Treatment Center official website to find out more.