‘Can’t put their phones down’: South Korea bans smartphones in school

South Korea has passed a bill banning the use of smartphones in schools during classes, joining a list of countries restricting the use of phones among children and teens.

The law, set to take effect in the next school year starting March 2026, is the outcome of a bipartisan initiative aimed at tackling smartphone addiction, amid growing research highlighting its negative impacts.

The ban has been backed by parents and teachers who say that smartphones affect students’ performance, as many of them spend more time on their devices than studying.

Some countries, such as Finland and France, have implemented limited phone bans, applying the restrictions only in schools for younger children. In contrast, countries like Italy, the Netherlands, and China have imposed broader bans, restricting phone use across all schools.

‘Can’t put down their phones’

The mother of a 14-year-old in Seoul, Choi Eun-young, told BBC that she supports the bill since children these days “just can’t seem to put their smartphones down.”

However, the problem is not rampant just among children and teens. A 2024 government survey reveals that 51 million people in South Korea stick to their phones more than required.

Choi said, “When they go to school, they’re supposed to study, but also build friendships and take part in various activities. Yet they’re unable to focus on those things. Even when they’re chatting with friends, they quickly go back to their phones, and naturally, this interferes with learning as well.”

Over a third of teenagers admit they have trouble limiting the time they spend scrolling through videos on social media. Many parents worry that this habit is taking away from other important activities in their lives.

Some are against the ban

While the bill has been welcomed by most parents, it has received sharp scepticism from students and some teachers. The Korean Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union has said that the ban takes away students’ right to access smartphones.

Cho Young-sun, a high school teacher, said, “In the current reality, students have no place to meet friends outside of cram schools except through KakaoTalk [a communication app] or Instagram, and they are constantly pushed into competition at school.”