Ghaziabad: The tragic deaths of three minor sisters in Ghaziabad have drawn national attention to a Korean online “love game” that police believe had a deep psychological impact on the girls, influencing their thoughts and behaviour.
The sisters, aged 16, 14 and 12, died after jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment building in Sahibabad area in the early hours of the day. Police said the girls were highly addicted to an interactive, task-based Korean game and had begun believing they were “Korean princesses” rather than Indians.
According to investigators, the girls locked themselves inside a puja room after midnight, used a chair to reach a window, and jumped one after another. All three died on the spot. A diary recovered from their home contained apology notes, sketches and repeated references to Korean culture and characters from the game, indicating intense psychological immersion.
Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh said the game followed a role-playing format where users assume fictional identities and complete assigned tasks. While the exact application has not yet been identified, forensic analysis of the girls’ mobile phones is underway.
Police said the addiction reportedly developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the sisters stopped attending school regularly and spent most of their time gaming together. Their parents had recently tried to restrict mobile phone usage, which investigators believe may have caused emotional distress.
The girls’ father told police that he was unaware the game involved task-based interaction and only discovered its nature after the phones were examined. He added that his daughters often spoke about wanting to visit Korea.
Trans-Hindon Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patil said the suicide note did not mention any specific app but clearly showed strong influence of Korean culture. An eyewitness told police that one girl jumped first, while the others appeared to fall while trying to stop her.
Authorities are continuing the investigation to understand how prolonged online gaming addiction and cultural influence contributed to the tragedy. Police have also raised concerns over the psychological impact of immersive online games on minors.
