A new study demonstrates a clear correlation between increased use of digital devices and lower math scores in students. (Image courtesy of Kobiz Media)
SEOUL, Aug. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s parliament has passed a law banning the use of smartphones during class time in elementary, middle and high schools, in an effort to curb youth overdependence on digital devices — though critics argue the measure could prove largely symbolic and even restrictive of students’ rights.
The amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, approved Wednesday, stipulates that students may not use smartphones or other smart devices during lessons beginning in March 2026. Exceptions will be made for students with disabilities, for educational purposes, or in emergencies.
The law also gives principals and teachers authority to restrict both the use and possession of smartphones on school grounds if deemed necessary to protect students’ learning rights and teachers’ ability to conduct lessons. Implementation details, including what constitutes educational use or emergency needs, will be left to individual school regulations.
Supporters say the measure addresses rising concerns over smartphone addiction among South Korean youth. The Education Ministry said the revision elevates existing administrative guidelines to the level of law, reinforcing schools’ authority to limit device use.
But the legislation has ignited debate. Critics warn that codifying restrictions could override students’ autonomy and inflame long-standing tensions between discipline and rights.
Youth and rights groups issued statements condemning the law as an infringement on students’ ability to communicate beyond school walls. Some lawmakers, including from the ruling party, questioned its effectiveness, calling it “excessive legislation.”
Human rights authorities have also shifted positions over the years. While South Korea’s National Human Rights Commission once held that collecting phones in classrooms violated students’ rights to privacy and communication, it softened its stance in 2023 amid growing public concerns about digital dependency.
With most schools already enforcing rules that restrict phone use during class, some experts argue the law may function more as a symbolic gesture than as a sweeping change.
“Ultimately, it will depend on how each school defines ‘educational purpose’ or ‘emergency,’” said Kim Beom-joo, a researcher at the National Assembly Research Service. “There is a risk this becomes more of a declaratory law than a practical one.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
