Continuous debate on key issues of WHO game addiction inclusion
“Research results discussed in the civil-private consultation body are not sufficient”
“The consultation body should operate more tightly”,
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, ‘Claims have emerged that mental health experts from the civil-private consultation group established in 2019 to determine the introduction of game addiction in Korea have discussed the introduction method and procedures based on the assumption that the inclusion of game addiction in the WHO disease code is already established.’,
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, ‘Professor Lee Dong-yeon from Korea National University of Arts, a member of the civil-private consultation body, stated at the “1st World Health Organization (WHO) Continuous Debate on the Inclusion of Game Addiction” held on the 16th in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, that “some mental health experts strongly opposed the opinion of some members that ‘since there has never been a case where the WHO disease code has been rejected in Korea, inclusion is already established, it is important to discuss how to introduce it’.”‘,
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, ‘He emphasized, “The basic principle behind creating the civil-private consultation body is to discuss whether game disease code inclusion should be decided. It is not right to establish the inclusion of game disease code and then discuss how to introduce it.”‘,
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, ‘In July 2019, amidst the intense opposition between the game industry and the healthcare sector regarding the introduction of game addiction disease code, the civil-private consultation body was established. The purpose of this body is to minimize concerns of the gaming industry regarding the domestic introduction of the disease code and find ways to establish a healthy gaming culture. The body consists of a total of 22 members, including 14 private members representing the medical, gaming, legal, and civil society sectors, and 8 government members.’,
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, ‘Subsequently, the civil-private consultation body conducted research projects on the appropriateness of domestic introduction, including “Analysis of Scientific Evidence for the Inclusion of Game Addiction Disease Code,” “Planning Study on the Reality of Game Addiction,” and “Study on the Ripple Effects of the Introduction of Game Addiction Disease Code.”‘,
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, ‘However, it is being pointed out in various sectors that the research results discussed within the body are insufficient in terms of scientific evidence, diagnostic methods and tools, and reports on ripple effects.’,
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, ‘Professor Lee mentioned, “The main activities of the consultation body are mainly advisory in nature, so there was a lack of sufficient debate and opinion reconciliation process within the body regarding the introduction of game addiction domestically. Currently, it is difficult to reach an agreed conclusion within the body.”‘,
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, ‘The civil-private consultation body started its first meeting on July 23, 2019, and has held a total of 11 meetings since then. It has been convened approximately twice a year for over 5 years. Professor Lee criticized, “It is difficult to consider the activities of the body as sufficient. There was no fierce debate among the stakeholders.”‘,
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, ‘He also mentioned that the internal meeting system of the civil-private consultation body is loose, stating, “There have been cases where mental health experts within the body have said, ‘There is game addiction, but it can be addressed with existing treatment methods.’ There are differing opinions even within the mental health sector.”‘,
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, ‘According to Professor Lee, the civil-private consultation body aims to decide on the domestic introduction of the game disease code by at least 2026. He argued, “There is not much time left for discussion. With the current meeting structure of the body, it is difficult to converge the process until the decision time. At least until next year, scientific evidence, derivation of agreed diagnostic tools, reality surveys based on diagnostic tool decisions, derivation of economic, social, and cultural ripple effects based on the decision of introduction, and public hearings related to the introduction decision should be conducted.”‘,
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, ‘He emphasized, “The body should operate more tightly and a new discussion structure should be established, complemented by clinical and academic research related to the domestic introduction.”‘,
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, ‘Professor Park Jong-hyun from Kookmin University College of Law pointed out the legal issues associated with the codification of game addiction as a disease code. He assessed, “The ICD is a recommendation, not mandatory, for WHO member countries,” and said, “In Korea, the contents of the international standard ICD have conventionally been adopted as the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases (KCD)’, However, there is significant debate over whether Korea should adopt WHO’s decisions.”‘,
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, ‘He further criticized, “In Korea, blindly accepting the ICD-11 game addiction based on the formal interpretation of the statistical law provision stating ‘based on international classification standards’ without any unique discussions on the societal and cultural implications of gaming is problematic.”‘,
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, ‘Moreover, he expressed concerns that the codification of game addiction as a disease code could establish arbitrary standards through regulations, potentially infringing on basic rights. He stated, “It is difficult for a non-democratically legitimate administrative agency to set regulatory measures that infringe on fundamental rights under the pretext of setting formal things like statistical standards. Mechanically adopting decisions of foreign organizations established without the consent of the public poses a serious challenge to popular sovereignty and democracy.”‘,
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, ‘Choi Seung-woo, Director of the Policy Division at the Korea Game Industry Association, who attended the debate, stated that it is premature to determine the introduction of the game addiction disease code at this point. He emphasized, “More research and data from various fields need to be accumulated. Moreover, it is necessary to thoroughly review with objective data which country among WHO member countries is adopting ICD-11 and why Korea intends to take the lead in introducing the game addiction disease code and providing diagnostic measures.”‘, and raised his voice.’,