Gangnam-gu survey reveals high smartphone addiction risk among youth

Gangnam-gu has released the results of its first ‘2026 Gangnam-gu Addiction Awareness and Status Survey,’ targeting residents aged 19 to 39. The study, conducted by the Gangnam-gu Addiction Management Integrated Support Center and Korea Research, highlights significant addiction risks among the local youth population.

Key findings indicate that 37.4% of respondents use smartphones for more than six hours a day, with 13.1% classified as being in a high-risk group for smartphone addiction. Additionally, 56.5% of participants reported experience with gambling-style games, such as lotteries, casinos, or sports betting, with an average initial experience age of 22.6.

Regarding substance use, 26.6% of respondents reported experience with drugs, most commonly diet pills (16.5%) and sedatives or sleeping pills (9.0%). Alcohol consumption was also noted, with the average age of first experience being 19.2 years old.

The survey revealed a gap in professional intervention; only 12.4% of those experiencing addiction issues sought counseling or treatment, often citing a desire to ‘solve it alone’ as the primary reason. In response, Gangnam-gu plans to use this data to strengthen prevention education, early intervention, and recovery support services through its specialized addiction management center.