As the access and the use of internet have been diffused in our daily life. internet addiction has been issued as a social pathological phenomenon. In this context, this study constructs a theoretical foundation on internet addiction based upon the understanding on internet and on addiction as a social phenomenon: examines the background of internet addiction in Korea: analyzes the cases of internet addiction as reported on newspapers; and explores the characteristics and the directions to cope with internet addiction. By so doing. this study aims at enhancing our understanding on internet addiction.