Exclusive: How dangerous is the Korean game? How can it take the lives of your children?

Three minor sisters died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of a ninth floor flat in Ghaziabad early Wednesday. In this case of death, the name of the online game Korean Game is coming to the fore. Police are investigating the role of online games, to which he was allegedly addicted. The three girls, named Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12), are said to have played a Korean “love game”. Similarly, in Bhopal also a minor student committed suicide by hanging himself, the game angle has also come to light in his death.

Girls had become addicted during the time of Covid

According to the police, these girls were playing this game a lot during Covid-19. Chetan Kumar, father of the three minors, said that the girls did not want to leave this game. He said, “They told me, ‘Papa, we can’t give up the Korean language. The Korean language is our life. The Korean language is everything to us. You can’t separate us from it. We will give up our lives.’ He told, I have just seen the suicide note. This is very sad. I appeal to all parents to be careful and ensure that children do not get too attached to the game.”

DCP Trans-Hindon, Nimish Patil, said they found a suicide note which did not name any specific app, but it was clear that the three girls were influenced by Korean culture. Police said that the girls were not going to school during Covid-19 and often played this game together. His increasing dependence on the game had become a matter of concern for the family. Preliminary investigation reveals that the parents were objecting to the girls’ continuous playing of the game.

“The three girls used to do everything together – from bathing, eating, sleeping to going to school,” the ACP said, according to PTI. The incident took place in a building in Bharat City under Tila Mor police station in Sahibabad area. Police received information at around 2.15 in the morning that three girls had jumped from the balcony of the ninth floor flat.

Is this Korean game or love game?

The Korean ‘Love Game’ is an online, task-based interactive game. The game works similarly to the ‘Blue Whale Challenge’, in which players have to complete step-by-step tasks for 50 days.

It spreads through social media or messaging apps, where the other person makes friends by pretending to be a Korean or a foreign boy/girl. Easy tasks are given in the beginning, so that the trust of the players can be won. Gradually the tasks become serious and violent. When players do not complete tasks or want to quit, they are threatened, blackmailed and mentally tortured.

How dangerous is the Korean game?

If the tasks are not completed, the game administrators threaten to kill or harm the family, due to which the players start living in fear. The addiction to these games is so dangerous that players get cut off from their normal life, studies and family. The victim is made to feel that suicide is their only option. When parents stop playing games, addicted children may act out of extreme anger or frustration.

Why is it dangerous for children, why do children commit suicide?

• Well-known psychiatrist Binda Singh said that it is important to pay attention to children. These are games in which children are mentally tortured. In this, children lose money like gambling. Blackmailing is done in a strange way in these games. Singh narrated an incident in which a girl was asked to take off her clothes one by one after losing in a game. The girl used to obey everything she was told. He told that, a child was even asked to cut his body with a blade. There are many such incidents which you will be shocked to hear.
  
• Binda Singh told that since the age of children is young and at first they enjoy playing games, but as soon as the task is not completed, the harassment of children starts from there. It also has games that even mentally retarded children can play. Often we give mobile phones to children on their insistence and do not see what they are doing. When children fall into the trap of these gaming, they remain upset after losing and the biggest thing is that they do not share their thoughts.
  
• Psychiatrist said, be careful while giving mobile phones to children, especially it is important to pay attention to teenage children. Pay attention to their behavior while playing the game. When children become addicted to these games, their addiction increases so much that they become violent.
  
• If children talk less, remain silent and start preferring to be alone, especially if they stay awake at night after everyone goes to sleep and start playing games secretly, then it is important to pay attention. If you come to know that the child has become addicted to the game and his behavior is changing, then immediately start talking to him lovingly. Don’t scold them, because they don’t tell what the children are going through due to fear. Pay attention to your child, give him mobile but be careful with him.

Disclaimer: To get counseling and support from trained and accredited mental health counselors, dial the toll-free helpline number 14416 or 1800-891-4416 or TISS Icall 022-25521111 (Monday-Saturday: 8 AM to 10 PM)

(If you need help or you know someone who needs help, please contact your nearest mental health professional.)

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