South Korea Expands 'Phone-Free' School Initiative for Second Semester

South Korean schools are set to implement 'phone-free' periods during break times starting in the second semester, building on the existing legal ban on smartphone use during class hours. This expansion of the 'phone-free school' initiative is driven by provincial education offices aiming to address growing concerns over students' excessive reliance on smartphones and the rise of cyberbullying. The program seeks to encourage more engagement in activities like reading, arts, and sports. The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education plans to designate 300 schools by year-end where smartphone use unrelated to educational activities will be restricted. Meanwhile, the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education is piloting 'smartphone-free schools' in 10 elementary, middle, and high schools, plus three kindergartens, with a goal to expand to 150 schools by 2029. They also plan to distribute 10,000 'clean phones' with internet functions blocked next year. Other education offices in Daegu and North Jeolla Province are also initiating similar pilot programs, emphasizing student council-led policies over mandatory phone collection by schools.