South Korea has approved a new law banning the use of mobile phones and smart devices during school hours, making it the latest country to restrict student screen time.
The legislation, which takes effect in March 2026, was passed after a bipartisan push to address what lawmakers describe as a growing epidemic of smartphone addiction among children and teenagers.
Supporters of the ban, including parents, teachers, and policymakers, argue that excessive phone use is distracting students, hurting academic performance, and reducing time for focused study.
“Smartphone addiction is not just a social problem, it is an educational problem,” one lawmaker said during debate on the bill.
However, critics, particularly students, have voiced concerns about how the law will be enforced and whether it tackles the deeper causes of digital dependency.
South Korea joins a growing list of countries taking action to curb phone use among young people, amid increasing research linking screen dependency to declining mental health, concentration, and learning outcomes.
