South Korea Passes Nationwide Classroom Smartphone Ban Effective March 2026

South Korea’s National Assembly has approved a revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that prohibits the use of mobile phones and other digital devices during class hours at all elementary, middle and high schools. The nationwide ban takes effect with the new school year on 1 March 2026, formalising restrictions that many schools already apply informally. Lawmakers said the measure responds to rising concerns over youth screen time and social-media dependency. Surveys cited by the Education Ministry show 37% of middle- and high-school students believe social media intrudes on their daily lives, while 22% feel anxious without access. Separate Pew Research data put smartphone ownership in South Korea at 98%, the highest among the 27 countries it studied in 2022-23. The bill, backed by both governing and opposition parties, was sponsored by People Power Party legislator Cho Jung-hun, who described adolescent social-media addiction as “serious”. Phones may still be used for educational purposes, in emergencies or by students with disabilities, but youth advocacy groups have warned the measure could infringe students’ communication rights. With the vote, South Korea joins France, the Netherlands and several Australian states in legislating classroom phone bans, underscoring a global push to limit digital distractions and safeguard student well-being.