South Korea Bans Mobile Phones in Classrooms to Tackle Smartphone Addiction
South Korea has approved a nationwide ban on the use of mobile phones in school classrooms, a move officials say is aimed at curbing smartphone addiction and improving student focus.
The legislation, passed by the National Assembly on Wednesday, will take effect in March 2026 and applies to all smart devices, including mobile phones, during class hours.
As one of the most digitally connected nations in the world, South Korea has been grappling with growing concerns that excessive smartphone use is harming children’s education and emotional well-being. Lawmakers behind the bill argue the ban is a necessary step to create healthier learning environments.
National Assembly member Cho Jung-hun of the opposition People Power Party, who introduced the bill, acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue but said it was long overdue.
He explained that phone use in classrooms had been “contentious amid concerns over human rights violations,” but the country’s National Human Rights Commission recently revised its position, saying restrictions are justified because of their negative impact on students’ learning and mental health.
Against this backdrop, legislators said the new law would help reduce conflict by “clearly defining rules on smart device use in schools.”
The measure aligns South Korea with a growing list of nations—including Australia and the Netherlands—that have introduced similar restrictions in schools in response to concerns about social media’s influence on children.
Still, not everyone supports the move. Critics, including the left-wing Jinbo Party, argue the restrictions are heavy-handed and will ultimately do more harm than good.
The party said in a statement that the law will “infringe on students’ digital rights and right to education,” adding that it “prevents adolescents from learning to make responsible decisions on their own and deprives them of opportunities to adapt to the digital environment.”
Despite the pushback, the government maintains that the law strikes the right balance between protecting students and preparing them for the challenges of the digital era.
Punch
