{"id":2205652,"date":"2024-07-02T18:27:59","date_gmt":"2024-07-02T09:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2205652"},"modified":"2024-07-03T13:38:52","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T04:38:52","slug":"sleepless-in-seoul-students-overload-on-caffeine-to-cope-with-academic-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/07\/sleepless-in-seoul-students-overload-on-caffeine-to-cope-with-academic-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleepless in Seoul: Students overload on caffeine to cope with academic pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"
In South Korea, where academic success often comes at the cost of sleep and well-being, students like Ye-jin turn to high-caffeine drinks to fuel their grueling study routines.<\/span><\/p>\n Ye-jin, a high school student in the Seoul metropolitan area, began consuming energy drinks in middle school. Now, she drinks up to two cans a day, plus coffee, especially during exam periods.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI rely on them because I get sleepy while studying, and I believe I shouldn\u2019t fall asleep,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n Her daily routine is demanding: \u201cI wake up at 6:30 a.m. and go to school. Right after school, I go to a private cram school until 8:00 p.m. After that, I go to a study cafe and end up going home at 12:00 a.m. I usually sleep 5 hours a day.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ye-jin\u2019s lifestyle is not unique among her peers in South Korea, where students dedicate themselves to their studies day and night. Many consume high-caffeine drinks out of necessity to meet the demands of an ultra-competitive academic system and stay alert during exams.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI drink energy drinks every day, usually one can or up to two cans,\u201d Jin-seo, Ye-jin\u2019s classmate, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Medical professionals <\/span>recommend<\/span><\/a> that people aged 12 to 17 consume less than 100mg of caffeine per day, which is about one cup of coffee\u2019s worth. However, energy drinks can contain as much as 250mg of caffeine, in addition to high sugar content.<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, a <\/span>web-based survey<\/span><\/a> by the Korea Youth Risk Behavior (KYRB) group reported an alarming increase in the proportion of students consuming high-caffeine beverages three or more times per week, from 3.3% in 2015 to 22.3% in 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI drink energy drinks four to five times a week. Other students drink a lot when they have to study,\u201d Ha-ram, a middle school student in Paju, said.<\/span><\/p>\n The early and frequent consumption of these drinks raises significant health concerns, particularly in a country where youth struggle with sleep deprivation, high stress levels, anxiety and low life satisfaction.<\/span><\/p>\n RISKS FOR VULNERABLE YOUTH<\/b><\/p>\n High-caffeine beverage consumption can improve concentration and prevent sleep, but it also comes with significant risks.<\/span><\/p>\n Kim Hyun-kyu, a clinical fellow at Yonsei University\u2019s College of Medicine, who <\/span>co-authored<\/span><\/a> a study identifying an association between excessive high-caffeine drink consumption and higher anxiety levels in Korean adolescents, warned that these drinks can exacerbate heart palpitations, nervousness and anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCaffeinated beverages may worsen symptoms in people who already suffer from mental health problems,\u201d Kim told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>. \u201cIn particular, in cases of anxiety, it can make symptoms worse, and, of course, in the case of insomnia, caffeine can greatly exacerbate it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Although definitive evidence linking high caffeine consumption directly to major health issues remains elusive, numerous red flags indicate <\/span>potential significant harm<\/span><\/a> and an increased risk of anxiety and insomnia, particularly for those already facing dietary and mental health challenges.<\/span><\/p>\n