A government panel said Thursday that 8.1 percent of around 100,000 junior high and high school students polled nationwide are suspected of being "Internet addicts."

Based on the finding, the panel under the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry estimates that some 518,000 students in schools nationwide suffer from the addiction, which can trigger health-related problems, including sleep disruptions.

The first-ever national study on Internet addiction among junior high and high school students was conducted between last October and March.