Share of Schools Requiring Students to Hand In Smartphones at Arrival Rises from 38% to 42%; Practices Vary by School and Region

KEDI analyzes smart-device restrictions at schools nationwide
"Strict restrictions": 9.4% of elementary schools, 87.1% of middle schools, and 65.8% of high schools

The number of schools operating strict restrictions on smartphone use, such as requiring students to hand in their phones when they arrive at school, increased from last year. A law generally restricting the use of smart devices during class took effect this March, but a survey found that actual practices vary by school level and region.

According to a report by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI) titled "Issues and Challenges in Schools Following the Implementation of the Act Restricting the Use of Smart Devices," as of July this year, 42.2% of schools that had incorporated rules restricting smartphone use into their school regulations operated under a "strict restriction" policy. This was up 4.1 percentage points from 38.1% last year.

"Strict restrictions" refer to schools collecting and storing students' smart devices when they arrive at school. Under "less strict restrictions," students keep their devices but are prohibited from using them at certain times, such as during class.

Of the 11,669 schools surveyed in 2025, 4,447 adopted strict restrictions. This year, 4,145 of the 9,879 schools surveyed (42.2%) operated under strict restrictions. The survey covered only schools that had completed incorporating smartphone-use restrictions into their school regulations by July this year.

By school level, middle schools had the highest rate of strict restrictions, at 87.1%. The rate was 65.8% at high schools and 9.4% at elementary schools.

Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI), "Issues and Challenges in Schools Following the Implementation of Legislation Restricting the Use of Smart Devices"

There were also regional differences. Busan had the highest share of schools operating under strict restrictions, at 57.1%, followed by Jeju at 54.5%, South Jeolla Province at 51.6%, and Gwangju at 50.2%. North Jeolla Province had the lowest share, at 15.6%.

KEDI researchers said, "Although the law provides a basis for restricting the use of smart devices during class, the scope of restrictions and how they are implemented vary considerably among education offices and schools." They added, "This has highlighted a key issue: how to balance common standards set at the national and education-office levels with autonomous implementation that takes each school's circumstances into account."

At the National Assembly Education Committee's state audit of the Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon education offices the previous day, lawmakers also raised concerns about differing smartphone restrictions at individual schools.

Kim Hee-jung, chair of the National Assembly Education Committee, said, "The rules governing smart-device use differ among education offices. Even within the limits of what students are allowed to carry, the rules vary: some prohibit use only during class, while others prohibit it outside class as well, and schools also differ in how they store the devices." She added, "Even when students attend different schools, they meet at the same playgrounds and academies, so they are voicing complaints and dissatisfaction. Shouldn't there be fewer choices, at least within the jurisdiction of the same superintendent of education?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.