The tragic death of three minor sisters in Ghaziabad has triggered a wider conversation about online gaming addiction, Korean task-based games and the growing influence of Korean digital culture on young minds. The incident, which unfolded earlier this week, has shaken families, educators and mental health experts, raising urgent questions about the dangers of unchecked screen exposure and immersive digital content.
The sisters — aged 16, 14 and 12 — reportedly jumped from the ninth floor of their residential building, a case now being investigated by the police amid concerns that their actions were linked to an obsession with a Korean task-based online game.
Police link deaths to task-based Korean online game
According to police officials, preliminary investigations suggest that the girls were deeply engrossed in a Korean task-based gaming app that required users to complete a series of escalating challenges. Authorities are examining whether the structure and psychological grip of the game may have influenced the girls’ decision.
Investigators have seized mobile phones, personal diaries and other materials from the apartment to trace the extent of their digital activity and emotional state in the days leading up to the incident. Officials have stated that the focus remains on understanding how online content may have contributed to the tragedy.
Chilling note highlights emotional attachment to Korean culture
A handwritten note recovered from the scene has added a deeply unsettling dimension to the case. The note, reportedly written by the sisters, expressed remorse towards their father and revealed a profound emotional attachment to the Korean digital world they were immersed in. The note read:
“Sorry, Papa… we cannot leave Korea. Korea is our life, and you can’t make us leave it. That’s why we are committing suicide.”
The message has become a focal point of the investigation, illustrating how strongly the girls identified with the virtual culture surrounding the game.
Family recalls growing isolation and gaming fixation
Family members told the police that the sisters had become increasingly withdrawn over the past few years. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, they had reportedly stopped attending school regularly and spent most of their time indoors, often on their mobile phones.
Their father stated that he was unaware the game involved task-based challenges and believed it to be harmless entertainment. He also mentioned that the family had recently tried to limit the girls’ phone usage after noticing excessive screen time, a move that investigators are now assessing in relation to the timeline of events.
From entertainment to danger: experts warn of digital addiction
The incident has reignited concerns among psychologists and child-welfare experts about gaming addiction and digital obsession among minors. While Korean popular culture — spanning music, dramas, fashion and games — enjoys massive global popularity, experts caution that immersive digital environments can become psychologically overwhelming for children when boundaries are absent.
Mental health professionals stress the importance of parental monitoring, open communication and early intervention. Sudden withdrawal from school, emotional isolation, and obsessive engagement with digital platforms are among the warning signs families are urged not to ignore.
A wake-up call on limiting screen exposure
As investigations continue, the deaths of the three sisters stand as a sobering reminder that digital addiction is no longer just a lifestyle issue but a serious mental health concern. Experts emphasise that setting screen-time limits, encouraging offline interaction and seeking professional help when behavioural changes appear are critical steps in preventing similar tragedies.
The case has prompted calls for greater awareness, stricter oversight of task-based online games and a broader societal conversation about how deeply digital cultures are shaping young lives — sometimes with irreversible consequences.
