China has 1,500 Web addiction counselors

China has more than 1,500 counselors who can provide psychological treatment for children or teenagers addicted to the Internet, the Beijing Morning Post reported on Aug 20.

Currently, 1,567 therapists in 83 cities provide help to young people who spend too much time daily on the Internet. The counselors provide psychological treatment and tell people how to surf the Internet in a healthy way, the report said.

The report said that about 24 million children or teenagers in the country are addicted to the Internet, citing experts' figures. However, the Ministry of Health said that so far there hasn't been a clear definition of "Web addiction".

In South Korea, people who spend more than 80 hours online a week are defined as being addicted to the Web, the report said.

The report also said that an international forum on the Internet addiction syndrome will be held in November in Beijing.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn