South Korea’s Education Ministry has announced a new law that restricts the use of smartphones in classrooms, allowing exceptions only for educational purposes or when used as assistive tools for students with disabilities or special needs.
The ministry stated that the measure provides a legal basis to limit smartphone possession and usage in order to “protect students’ right to learn and support teachers’ activities.”
The law, introduced by Cho Jung-hun of the opposition People Power Party, addresses a long-standing debate over phone use in schools. Lawmakers argued the law was necessary to reduce social conflict by clearly defining rules around smart device use.
Although concerns about potential human rights violations had been raised in the past, South Korea’s National Human Rights Commission recently shifted its stance, saying restrictions for educational purposes do not infringe on students’ rights, given the negative effects of excessive phone use on learning and emotional well-being.
However, the law has faced criticism from some groups, including the left-wing Jinbo Party. The party argued that the ban undermines students’ digital rights and their ability to learn responsible device use, stating it “prevents adolescents from developing autonomy and adapting to the digital world.”
