In a shocking incident, three minor sisters jumped to deaths from their ninth-floor apartment in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, in the early hours of Wednesday. While the exact reason behind their tragic decision is still under investigation, police have found that the girls were addicted to an online task-based game called Korean Lover.
The girls began playing the game during the Covid-19 pandemic and had reportedly been involved with it for the past five years. The 14-year-old middle sister is believed to have been the “leader” of the game, assigning tasks to the other two.
"The three did everything together—from bathing and eating to sleeping and going to school," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Shalimar Garden) Atul Kumar Singh stated.
A suicide note found at their home has provided further insight into their obsession with the game. "We can't leave Korea. Korea is our life. You can't free us. We are ending our lives," the note read.
What is Korean Lover?
Korean Lover is an online task-based interactive game that involves 50 different tasks. The game, which is not available on mainstream app stores like Google Play or Apple’s App Store, exploits young people's fascination with Korean culture, including K-dramas, fashion, and music.
Reports suggest that the initial tasks in the game often appear harmless and funny, but they gradually escalate to include self-harm and social isolation, with the final task being suicide.
Police are currently investigating whether the Ghaziabad sisters' deaths were part of this game's final, deadly task. Investigators have discovered that the girls were so engrossed in Korean culture that they had adopted Korean names for themselves.
These "love games" feature highly stylized fictional characters—often inspired by K-pop culture—with whom players interact through scripted storylines or AI-driven chats, reports The Tribune.
According to mental health experts cited in the report, these games can involve emotional manipulation, with players being asked to complete tasks at odd hours to "prove" their loyalty or maintain a virtual relationship.
Behavioral changes, such as adopting a new identity subconsciously and extreme secrecy, are common among those addicted to this game. Victims also tend to exhibit compulsive group behavior and make unusual marks on their skin.
How to block this game on your child’s phone
To prevent children from accessing or downloading games like Korean Lover, parents can make some changes in the settings to block apps that aren’t available in mainstream app stores:
For Android: Go to Settings > Security > Install Unknown Apps. Ensure all browsers and messaging apps are set to "Not Allowed".
For iOS: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.