“Online Detox: Hoping a Year-End Surrounded by Conversations.”

By Joo-Won

 Department of English Education at Kyungnam University

 I'm so glad to meet you through this letter. When I look back the world, it seems that conversations between people are disappearing. But I hope the end of 2025 will be filled with love and warmth.I would like to begin my letter with a simple question: How many hours do you use your cell phone each day? And my next question is this: How many hours do you spend talking to people face-to-face? In today’s world, using a cell phone has become such an essential routine that many of us feel uneasy without it. It connects us, informs us, and entertains us—but at the same time, it often distances us from the people who are physically right beside us.

 As the end of the year approaches, I sincerely hope that we can take a moment to put our phones aside and return to warm, genuine conversations. I hope we create moments where we truly look at each other, listen to each other, and share our thoughts without any digital distractions. Even a short conversation can bring comfort, healing, and a sense of closeness—especially after a long and challenging year.

 Thank the reporters of the Kyungnam Times for your dedication and hard work throughout this year. I respect each of you as my colleagues at the university, and I feel grateful to be part of the same academic community. May the coming year, 2026, be gentler, brighter, and filled with meaningful connections for all of us.