South Korean Schools Struggle with Smartphone Ban as Students Find Workarounds

South Korea's recent law prohibiting smartphone use during class has created a complex reality in schools, where students are finding ways around the restrictions.

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Nearly half the class submits spare smartphones and uses them secretly.

At Seoul's G High School, the ban, which began last semester, now covers all smart devices, not just phones. Violators are no longer just given demerits but are immediately referred to the school's disciplinary committee. However, students report that nearly half the class uses "spare phones" to secretly access the internet. Similarly, at N Middle School, a policy of collecting all smartphones upon arrival has been circumvented by students hacking educational tablets to use social media and play games.

The law, which took effect on March 1, aims to protect the mental health of adolescents, with 40.1% of those aged 10-19 considered at risk of smartphone addiction. The initial legislative push focused on banning devices during class, leaving the specifics of possession and use outside of class hours to individual schools. This has resulted in a patchwork of policies: some schools collect devices upon entry, others ban possession outright, while some only prohibit use during instructional time. Many argue that the law's intent is not being fully realized on the ground.

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Friends hack the educational tablets distributed by the school to use Instagram and play games.

Concerns are growing about the effectiveness of these bans, especially when implemented without student input. "There was no student consultation when changing the school rules," said Ahn Byung-seok, a third-year student at G High School. "Teachers just said, 'The law says so.'" This approach, coupled with inconsistent enforcement by teachers, breeds resentment and makes it harder to curb secret phone use. Some schools, like N Middle School, conducted student surveys but proceeded with collection policies despite majority opposition, leading students to feel the process was merely a formality.

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Teachers just said, 'The law says so.'

While South Korea pushes for stricter regulations, with some provinces promoting "smartphone-free" or "smartphone-pause" schools, international examples offer a mixed outlook. In the U.S., 22 states and Washington D.C. have banned phones throughout the school day to combat issues like declining academic performance and cyberbullying. A study in Florida found a 25% increase in suspensions in the first year of a ban. Another study on schools using "lockable pouches" showed no clear academic benefits but a rise in students' subjective sense of well-being after three years. Experts emphasize that for such policies to succeed, students must be active participants in the discussion, not just subjects of adult-imposed control.

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In a situation like this, how can we stop students from secretly using smartphones?