Thank you for breaking my gaming addiction

Chae Chan Woo didn’t know what to do without the internet when he first arrived at the digital detox camp in Dateline's story. Now he’s discovered poetry and a world outside gaming.

“I feel like the game is controlling me, and when I lose it, I lose my temper,” Chan Woo said at the start of his rehab. Source: SBS Dateline

When we first met our mentors, I was too shy to talk to them because we had never met before. However, as time went by, I got to know all our mentors and we did activities together and played jokes on each other.

I enjoyed every single moment, but the most enjoyable time was the PE class. I was able to show off my soccer skills, but at the same time I learned how to collaborate with others and how to play enthusiastically and fairly. That’s why I enjoyed PE classes the most.

Chan Woo with one of his mentors, Yeo Joon-Hyuk. Source: SBS Dateline

What I also learned from this camp was how to write a poem. I learned that I could simply express all my feelings by comparing with other objects.

I started writing a poem only because there was nothing else to do. Then all the stories from our story-telling class just came into my mind and I started writing a poem. The reason why I like writing a poem is that I can honestly express my feelings and it is full of hope.

Also, there is a rhythm in the poem, and when I feel this rhythm, it makes me happy as well. That’s why I like a poem.

Chan Woo (centre of image) takes part in a meditation centre at the camp. Source: SBS Dateline

Another part of the course I really liked was that I could actually relieve anxiety and stress through meditation. Even though it was extremely difficult for me to live without the internet, I was also happy about the fact that I could control my mind through other hobbies, like chess or table tennis.

I actually cried a lot on the last night of camp while I was having a chat with my mentor. It was really sad to say goodbye when I didn’t want to. It was a pity that the time went too fast when we were there.

Chan Woo (left) and some of the other addicts wave goodbye, looking happier at the end of the rehab. Source: SBS Dateline

These days, I have a few different tutoring classes so that I don’t have much time to play on my smartphone. And now I feel much better than I used to when I lose games.

Last of all, I would like to express my thanks to all the mentors - Joon Hyuk Yeo, Gye Hyun Cho, Ji Soo Lim, Sang Yong Jeong and Jong Geun Chun - who taught me how to write a poem and helped me in different ways; the administrative mentor team who helped us to stay safe and secure all the time; the head of department in Dream Village who developed programs which helped us not to get bored; and our dietician, Gyu Ho Park, who always provided delicious food for us.

See the full story, Korea's Internet Addicts: