Four in every 100 Korean teenagers are at risk of Internet addiction, a government study showed Wednesday.
The
survey of 1.74 million youths, conducted by the Ministry of Gender
Equality and Family in cooperation with the Education Ministry, found
that 3.9 percent of the participants, or 608,044, were categorized as
high-risk Internet users; or at-risk users, in other words, potential
addicts.
Although lower than the previous year’s 4.94 percent, the rate is still high, ministry official Kim Sung-byuk said.
“The
ratio of students at risk of addiction has been on the decline in
recent years, helped by increased public awareness, governmental
measures and campaigns,” he said.
“Still, our teens are too hooked on the internet.”
The
study was conducted between April and March on fourth graders in
elementary schools, first graders in middle schools and first year
students in high schools nationwide.
Some 0.9 percent of
participants, or 16,714, belong to the high-risk group. They feel the
need to be online and experience withdrawal symptoms when offline for
significant periods of time, such as depression. For elementary school
fourth-graders in this group, the average daily internet use exceeds 3
hours.
The at-risk group adds up to 2.6 percent of students.
This group feels insecure when offline for long periods of time. Average
Internet use for elementary fourth-graders in this group is two hours a
day.
Elementary school fourth graders showed the highest
percentage of high-risk users at 0.9 percent. The figures for those in
the first year of middle school and high-school stood at 0.9 percent and
0.6 percent, respectively.
Teen Internet or online gaming addiction has been a social problem in Korea, one of the world’s most wired countries.
Last
November the government started an online gaming curfew, blocking those
under age 16 from logging onto online game sites from midnight to 6
a.m.
Last week, teen scientist Jack Andraka beat out more than 1,500
students from 70 countries at the Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF). Jack won the contest by developing a brand-new
test for detecting pancreatic cancer—a dangerous illness that affects
the pancreas, an organ that is part of the digestive system.
The
15-year-old native of Crownsville, MD lost his uncle to pancreatic
cancer 10 months ago. So the budding teen scientist decided to do
something to help fight the disease.
Victims of pancreatic
cancer have large amounts of a chemical called mesothelin in their
blood. Mesothelin can warn of the cancer early enough that it can be
treated. However, current tests for mesothelin are very expensive.
Often, the disease is detected too late for effective treatment.
Jack was inspired by diabetes tests, which use special paper to detect
chemicals in the blood. He invented his own paper test, which checks
urine or blood samples for mesothelin. The test can detect pancreatic
cancer with 90 percent accuracy. It is also 28 times cheaper and about
1,000 times more sensitive than current pancreatic-cancer tests.
TEEN TITANS OF SCIENCE
For his efforts, Jack won the Gordon E. Moore award, the top award at ISEF. He also earned a $75,000 prize.
Two runners-up and more than 400 other finalists also won prizes in the
contest, which is the world’s largest science fair for teens. The fair
awarded more than $3 million in prizes for top science experiments. A
total of 1,200 experts in 14 different fields evaluated the young
scientists’ work.
Intel, a computer-chip manufacturer, has been
sponsoring the contest since 1997. Wendy Hawkins, the executive director
of the Intel Foundation, explained in a press release, “We support the
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair because we know that
math and science are imperative to future global growth. This
competition encourages millions of students to engage their skills for
innovation and develop promising solutions for global challenges.”
Pizza is one of the most popular foods all over the world, and many will
be pleased to know that the cheesy treat may be healthier than
previously thought.
According to a recent study, scientists have
found that oregano, a seasoning usually used in pizza, may help fight
prostate cancer.
Researchers from Long Island University, New York, studied carvacrol, a
chemical in oregano, to find that it had to ability to rapidly eliminate
prostate cancer cells.
After four days, almost all the cells were killed, the experimental biology conference in San Diego heard.
“Some
researchers have previously shown that eating pizza may cut down cancer
risk,” said researcher Supriya Bavadekar, a pharmacologist.
Tests have shown oregano causes cancer cells to die, and research is now focusing on why this is the case.
Derek's favorite: with anchovies
“If
the study continues to yield positive results, this super-spice may
present a very promising therapy for patients with prostate cancer,”
Bavadekar said.
She also warned that “this study is at a very
preliminary stage and further experiments need to be conducted to get a
better idea of uses in the clinic.”
Youngest winner at 15 to choose agency among top three K-pop companies
Fifteen-year-old
Park Ji-min became the winner of SBS’ “K-pop Star,” beating out her
rival Lee Ha-yi by one point in the neck-and-neck competition on Sunday
evening.
With Sunday’s win, Park also became the youngest and first female winner of a local TV singing audition program.
“I’m
happy because I feel like I’m being rewarded for all the hard work up
until now. I would like to thank my parents and the three judges,” said
Park, ending the five-month contest.
Park won 300 million won
($265,000) in prize money along with an opportunity to release an album
under the agency of her choice among the top entertainment companies,
SM, YG and JYP Entertainment.
She will also receive additional prizes including a car and a chance to shoot a commercial.
Throughout the competition, Park was praised for her powerful vocals and lively performances.
She
sang two songs at the final stage ― “Music is My Life” by Korean singer
Lim Jung-hee and “Mercy” by British singer Duffy, which had been sung
by Lee earlier in the competition.
Park topped Lee by one point
after receiving higher scores from judges, although Lee scored higher in
the online vote by viewers with 52 percent. Park had 47 percent.
The total score was based on judges’ scores (60 percent); phone votes by viewers (30 percent); and online votes (10 percent).
Lee sang “Killing Me Softly with His Song” by Roberta Flack and “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele.
Park
was well-known for her outstanding vocal ability in her hometown of
Daejeon before she appeared on the audition program. Her parents had
both been singers when they were young.
The audition program
differentiated itself from other singing contests by giving the winner a
chance to debut under an agency of their choice.
Now attention has shifted to which label Park will choose.
Park
and other contestants all underwent training at the three agencies at
each stage of the audition. Judges picked their favorite candidates and
had them undergo each of their training programs.
Park began to receive the spotlight when she sang “Rolling in the Deep” under SM Entertainment’s tutelage in December.
Her
performance received thumbs-up from the three judges and was praised by
Ashton Kutcher, who posted the video clip of the performance on his
Twitter.
The singing contest also drew attention from top
industry figure judges Yang Hyun-suk and Park Jin-young, former singers
and heads of major entertainment agencies YG Entertainment and JYP
Entertainment, respectively, and famous K-pop singer BoA, representing
SM Entertainment.
Park is expected to appear later as a guest on
the SBS talk show “Gangsimjang,” and talk about behind-the-scenes
stories of the audition program.
Just for your enjoyment, here is a video of a Canadian songwriter/singer, Joni Mitchell. She is very famous in Canada and many people consider her to be one of the best pop song writers in the world.
Joni Mitchell - Both Sides Now
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons ev'rywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As ev'ry fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughing when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions I recall
I really don't know love at all
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well something's lost, but something's gained
In living ev'ry day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all
I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
