No Phones Even During Breaks: Schools Lock Away Devices

[Anchor]

The terms of office for superintendents of education across the country began this month. Some superintendents have pledged to ban the use of mobile phones not only during class but also during breaks and lunch hours.

Reporter Jeong Banseok examines whether this raises concerns about the infringement of student human rights.

[Reporter]

A high school in Seoul, April of last year.

A student throws an object from the teacher's desk and punches the teacher in the face.

The incident occurred after the teacher intervened when the student was playing games on a mobile phone during class.

Since then, a law banning the use of mobile phones during class has been implemented, and some schools have banned their use entirely on campus.

[Jeong Yeon-ju / Homeroom Teacher at Hwaseong Middle School, Gyeonggi Province: Let's put all our phones away and sit back down before we start the morning assembly.]

Before the first period begins, students line up to place their phones in a collection box, and a student on duty locks it.

This is a so-called phone-free school.

Unless prior permission is granted, students cannot use their mobile phones during class, breaks, or lunch hours.

Even during outdoor activities like sports days, mobile phones are kept in a designated bag.

Teachers and parents are generally satisfied.

[Jeong Yeon-ju / Homeroom Teacher at Hwaseong Middle School, Gyeonggi Province: It prevents notifications from popping up during class and blocks the temptation to check social media in between.]

[Yoon Jung-mi / Parent at Hwaseong Middle School, Gyeonggi Province: There were cases where children wouldn't participate in school festivals and would only be on their phones.]

Most students have also become accustomed to it.

[Student at Hwaseong Middle School, Gyeonggi Province: I haven't used my phone much at school, so I don't really feel the need to use it.]

A survey of 153 elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide by the Korean Federation of Teachers' Associations found that 44% of schools prohibit mobile phone use even during breaks and lunch hours.

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea, which previously viewed the collective collection of mobile phones as an infringement on human rights, determined in 2024 that it cannot be considered a human rights violation if students' opinions are reflected in school regulations and if they can use their phones with teacher permission outside of class hours.

Concerns remain that a total ban on mobile phone use on campus could make it difficult to prevent or prove instances of corporal punishment by teachers, school violence, or child abuse.

[Yoon Soo-young / Youth Human Rights Activist: Many disputes that occur within schools involve photos, recordings, and videos, with parties arguing over who is right. Fundamentally banning the possession of smart devices (by students) also restricts their right to protect themselves, leave evidence, and keep records.]

Superintendents in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces have pledged to ban mobile phone use on campus, with plans to establish specific guidelines after a process of public deliberation.

Reported by Kim Han-gyeol | Video by Kim Jong-tae | VJ: Shin So-young | Graphics by Kang Yoon-jung
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.