South Korea bans smartphones in classrooms nationwide

Students in South Korea will be banned from using smartphones and smart devices during class, under a new law passed by the National Assembly.

According to a survey by the Korean Ministry of Education , 22% of students in this country feel anxious if they cannot access social networks - Illustration photo: REUTERS

South Korea on August 27 passed a bill to ban the use of smartphones and other digital devices in classrooms nationwide, amid growing concerns about the impact of social media use on young people.

The ban will take effect from March 2026, making South Korea the latest country to restrict smartphone and social media use among minors.

However, students with disabilities are still allowed to use digital devices. In addition, when necessary, these devices will also be used for other educational purposes.

Congressman Cho Jung Hun, the bill's sponsor, said that young people are now too "addicted" to social media, affecting both their physical and mental health, as many of them often stay up past midnight to "wander" on Instagram.

Previously, many schools in Korea have also imposed their own restrictions on smartphone use.

According to the US-based Pew Research Center, South Korea is among the most digitally connected countries in the world , with 99% of its population using the internet and 98% owning smartphones, the highest among 27 countries studied by Pew in 2022-2023.

Meanwhile, according to a survey by the South Korean Ministry of Education, about 37% of middle and high school students in the country said social media affects their daily lives. 22% feel anxious if they cannot access their social media accounts.

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VNA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/han-quoc-cam-dung-dien-thoai-thong-minh-trong-lop-hoc-tren-toan-quoc-20250828110256084.htm