A new rule is coming to schools across South Korea. By March 2026, students nationwide will no longer be allowed to use mobile phones or smart devices during class hours. This move comes after both the government and opposition parties agreed that something needed to be done about smartphone addiction. Many studies suggest this addiction hurts how young people learn and grow.
Lawmakers in the parliament passed this measure today, August 27. Out of 163 members who cast votes, 115 said yes to the new rules. While most schools already had their own ways to limit phone use, this new law makes those limits official and mandatory for everyone.
Those who support the ban say that smartphones hurt students’ grades. They also believe phones take away time students should spend studying and learning social skills. A government survey from 2024 showed that nearly one in four people in South Korea relied too much on their phones. For teenagers aged 10 to 19, this number jumped to 43 percent, and it continues to climb.
Parents often worry that phones distract their children from schoolwork. They also fear the risk of social media bullying. The politicians who pushed for this law pointed to scientific and medical evidence. They said this evidence clearly shows serious harm to young people’s brain and emotional development from too much screen time.
The new law does not completely forbid phones. Instead, it gives teachers the power to control phone use within school areas. It also requires schools to teach students how to use technology in a smart and proper way. There are exceptions, of course. Students with disabilities or special needs can use phones, as can those who need them for educational tasks or in emergencies.
Teachers have different ideas about the ban. A conservative teacher group likes the new law. They say it will help stop disruptions in classrooms. They shared that nearly 70 percent of teachers have faced angry students who yelled at them or even hurt them when their phones were taken away. Another teacher union has not yet said if they support the law. Some of their members worry it might take away students’ rights.
Some students argue that phones are not the real problem. They point instead to the intense education system and the tough university entrance exam, known as Suneung. They say this system forces them to study very hard from a young age. Some high schoolers mentioned they barely have time to use their phones. They are busy with tutoring and homework late into the night. Other students feel that just taking phones away won’t fix things. They believe schools should teach students how to use technology in creative ways.
With this new measure, South Korea joins a small group of countries that have made classroom smartphone bans into law. Italy, the Netherlands, and China have similar rules. This is different from countries like Finland and France, where such bans only apply to younger children.
Source: BBC