A tragic incident linked to an online Korean game claimed the lives of three minor sisters in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad after they jumped from a high-rise window. The girls—Nishika, 16, Prachi, 14, and Pakhi, 12—were allegedly deeply hooked on a Korean task-based mobile game that was Korean Love Game. Police said the sisters left behind a handwritten note apologising to their father and expressing their inability to “leave Korea,” which they described as their entire world. Investigators believe the siblings jumped one after another from their ninth-floor apartment, allegedly under the influence of a so-called Korean “lover game” that had consumed much of their lives.
What is Korean Love Game?
The Korean lover game, according to reports in News18 Hindi, is a themed online application built around virtual romance and structured tasks. Unlike casual mobile games, it revolves around sustained emotional engagement with a digital partner. These games are easily accessible through mobile apps and websites and draw strong inspiration from Korean pop culture, particularly K-dramas and K-pop aesthetics. Players are encouraged to emotionally invest in a fictional relationship rather than play for short-term entertainment. The immersive design is meant to blur the line between reality and fantasy, making users feel as if they are part of an idealised Korean world portrayed through popular entertainment media.
In the game, users choose a virtual companion who communicates mainly in Korean, sends affectionate messages, and assigns daily challenges. Police said these tasks often begin harmlessly, such as chatting frequently or sharing photos, but gradually escalate in intensity and personal involvement. Investigators noted that the sisters became increasingly isolated and emotionally dependent on the game during the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh stated that diary entries revealed extreme obsession, with the girls imagining themselves as Korean princesses and believing they were no longer Indian. Authorities said the sisters were highly addicted, spending most of their time on mobile phones under the game’s influence.
The incident happened at 2:15 am on February 4. They jumped from the 9th floor, and their cries and the impact of their fall jolted awake their parents, neighbours, and security staff at the Bharat City housing complex.
“When we reached the scene, we confirmed that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building,” said Atul Kumar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police. DCP Nimish Patil says, "As far as the investigation has progressed so far, no specific name of any person is mentioned... It is becoming clear that these three girls were influenced by Korean culture..." Morning visuals showed the sisters’ bodies on the ground, their mother inconsolable, and residents gathered in disbelief. Investigators revealed that the girls had withdrawn from school nearly two years ago due to their growing obsession.
Police are closely analysing an eight-page suicide note and a diary mentioned in it. “Is diary me jo kuch bhi likha hai woh sab padh lo kyuki ye sab sach hai (Read everything written in this diary because all of it is true.) Read now. I'm really sorry. Sorry, Papa,” the note stated, along with a crying emoji. Their father said the girls were consumed by Korean culture and had even adopted Korean names. “They said Papa sorry, Korea is our life, Korea is our biggest love, whatever you say, we cannot give it up,” he said, breaking down. Morning visuals showed the sisters’ bodies on the ground, their mother inconsolable, and residents gathered in disbelief. Investigators revealed that the girls had withdrawn from school nearly two years ago due to their growing obsession