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South Korea Bans Phones in School Classrooms Nationwide Starting March 2026

The measure seeks to curb heavy social-media use among students.

South Korean students wait to take the annual College Scholastic Ability Test at a school in Seoul, South Korea, November 14, 2024. Song Kyung-Seok/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Overview

  • Parliament approved the legislation with bipartisan support on Wednesday.
  • The prohibition covers mobile phones and other digital devices during classroom instruction across the country.
  • Limited exemptions allow use for students with disabilities or for approved educational purposes.
  • Government data indicate 37% of middle and high school students report social media affects daily life, with 22% anxious without access.
  • Youth advocacy groups criticized the law as infringing children's rights, though many schools already enforce similar restrictions.