South Korea has approved a new law banning the use of mobile phones in classrooms across the country, a move aimed at curbing smartphone addiction among students and safeguarding the quality of learning.
The legislation, passed on Thursday, positions South Korea among a growing list of nations—including Australia and the Netherlands—that have tightened restrictions on social media and digital device use in schools.
In a statement, Seoul’s Education Ministry explained that the law prohibits smartphone use during lessons, with exceptions made for students with disabilities or special education needs, and in cases where phones are required for academic purposes. The ministry stressed that the measure provides a legal framework to “restrict the possession and use of such devices to protect students’ right to learn and support teachers’ activities.”
South Korea, one of the world’s most digitally connected societies, has grappled with mounting concerns over excessive screen time among children and adolescents. Lawmakers backing the bill argued that unregulated smartphone use was taking a toll on students’ academic performance, mental health, and overall well-being.
The bill was spearheaded by opposition People Power Party lawmaker Cho Jung-hun, who noted that the debate around phone bans in schools had long been contentious, raising questions of personal freedom versus collective responsibility.
The National Human Rights Commission, which had initially opposed blanket restrictions, recently shifted its stance. It concluded that limiting smartphone use in classrooms for educational purposes does not constitute a human rights violation, given the documented negative impact of constant connectivity on learning and emotional stability.
Lawmakers said the new measure was necessary to reduce social conflict by clearly defining rules on smartphone use in schools.
However, the law has not gone unchallenged. The left-wing Jinbo Party criticized the ban, arguing that it infringes on students’ digital rights and denies them the chance to learn responsible device use. “The measure prevents adolescents from learning to make responsible decisions on their own and deprives them of opportunities to adapt to the digital environment,” the party said in a statement.
With the law now in place, South Korea has taken a decisive step in reshaping classroom culture, sparking both support and controversy as educators, parents, and students adjust to a new digital reality.
