25.08.27.Today News : Korean Schools to Ban Smartphone Use in Class from 2026

Korean Schools to Ban Smartphone Use in Class from 2026

• Ministry of Education enforces legal restrictions on smart devices during lessons, allowing only limited exceptions

Starting in March 2026, elementary, middle, and high school students in South Korea will be prohibited from using smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other smart devices during class. The Ministry of Education explained that the legal amendment was introduced to secure students’ learning rights and to support teachers’ educational activities.

Starting next March, elementary, middle, and high school students will be prohibited from using smartphones, smartwatches, tablet PCs, and other smart devices during class time.

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■ Smartphone Use Banned During Class
The Ministry of Education announced on the 27th that the National Assembly has passed an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. From the first semester of 2025 (March 1), students will be banned from using smartphones and other smart devices during class.

■ Limited Exceptions Allowed
○ The revised law allows exceptions only under specific conditions:

○ Students with disabilities or special educational needs using devices as assistive tools

○ When devices are used strictly for educational purposes

○ When responding to emergencies

○ In any of these cases, students may use devices only if permitted by school principals and teachers.

■ Restrictions on Possession and Use on Campus
Principals and teachers may restrict both the use and possession of smart devices when necessary to protect students’ right to learn and to ensure effective teaching. Specific standards and methods for restrictions must be established in school regulations.

■ Difference from Previous Guidelines
This measure is in line with the Ministry of Education’s 2023 directive, which has already been applied since September last year. The directive limited the use of smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and all portable electronic devices with communication functions during class. The revised law now provides a clear legal foundation for these restrictions.

■ Human Rights Concerns Resolved
Previously, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea had ruled that schools collecting students’ phones during class was not a violation of human rights. With the new law, long-standing debates over the use of smart devices in class are expected to be settled.

One-line summary : Starting in March 2026, South Korean students will be legally banned from using smart devices during class, with only limited exceptions for education or emergencies.