South Korea has passed a landmark law banning the use of smartphones and smart devices in classrooms, making it one of the few countries to impose such restrictions nationwide. The legislation, approved Wednesday with 115 votes in favor out of 163 lawmakers present, will take effect in March 2026.
The measure is aimed at tackling rising concerns over smartphone addiction among children and teenagers, which parents, teachers and lawmakers say is eroding academic performance and social interaction. Backed by both ruling and opposition parties, the bill reflects mounting evidence linking excessive device use to negative effects on learning, brain development and emotional health.
“Children these days just can’t seem to put their smartphones down,” said Choi Eun-young, a mother of a 14-year-old in Seoul. Many parents share her worries that constant phone use interferes with study time, friendships and extracurricular activities. Some, like Kim Sun, whose two daughters are in primary school, also fear the impact of online bullying.
A government survey in 2024 found nearly a quarter of South Korea’s 51 million people are overly dependent on smartphones. Among teenagers, that figure climbs to 43 percent. More than a third of teens admitted struggling to control the time they spend scrolling on social media.
While most schools already impose some form of phone restrictions, South Korea’s new law codifies the policy nationwide. Teachers will be empowered to confiscate phones during class hours, and schools are instructed to educate students on healthier device habits. Exceptions will be made for students with disabilities, educational purposes and emergencies.
The law, however, has sparked debate among educators. The conservative Korean Federation of Teachers’ Association welcomed the move, saying it gives schools “a much firmer legal basis” to reduce classroom disruptions. But the Korean Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union expressed reservations, with some members warning it infringes on students’ rights.
Students themselves are divided. Some argue that banning phones during class will not address broader issues such as South Korea’s grueling education system, dominated by the college entrance exam known as Suneung. “Rather than simply taking phones away, I think the first step should be teaching students what they can do without them,” said Seo Min-joon, an 18-year-old high schooler.
Others note that device use extends far beyond school hours. “Banning phones in classrooms doesn’t change the fact that students are still on their devices while commuting or late at night,” one student said.
South Korea now joins countries such as France, Italy, the Netherlands, China and Finland, which have implemented varying degrees of school phone bans. But by enshrining it into law, Seoul has gone further than most—setting up what could become a global test case in the fight against digital dependency in classrooms.