South Korea Officially Bans Cell Phones in Schools
The South Korean government has officially passed a bill banning the use of mobile phones and other digital devices in school classrooms. This law will take effect in March 2026, following growing concerns about the negative impacts of excessive social media use among students.
With this policy, South Korea joins a number of other countries that have implemented similar measures.
Australia has expanded its ban on social media access for teenagers, while research in the Netherlands has shown that banning mobile phones in schools can improve students’ concentration.
High Level of Connectivity
South Korea is known as one of the countries with the highest levels of digital connectivity in the world. According to a Pew Research Center survey (2022–2023), 99% of its citizens are connected to the internet and 98% own smartphones, the highest number of smartphones among the 27 countries studied.
Supported by Parliament
The bill was approved with bipartisan support in a parliamentary vote on Wednesday (August 27, 2025).
“Social media addiction among young people has reached a serious level,” said Cho Jung-hun, a member of parliament from the opposition People Power Party, which sponsored the bill, as quoted by Reuters on Thursday (August 28, 2025).
He cited the example of teenagers who often stay up late to use social media. “Our kids’ eyes are red every morning. They’re still on Instagram until 2 or 3 a.m.,” Cho said.
Facts on the Ground
A survey by the South Korean Ministry of Education last year revealed that around 37% of middle and high school students said social media affected their daily lives. Meanwhile, 22% felt anxious if they couldn’t access their social media accounts.
Previously, a number of schools in South Korea had already implemented mobile phone access independently. However, with this new law, the regulation is now formalized at the national level.
However, digital devices are still permitted for educational purposes and for students with disabilities.
Drawing Criticism
This policy has not been without criticism. Several child advocacy groups believe that banning mobile phones could restrict children’s rights, including the right to freedom of expression and communication.
