S. Korea considers curbing cellphone use in schools

Proposal comes amid concerns over pupils' dependence on smart devices

SEOUL - South Korea is mulling over a ban on smartphones in schools, as the government weighs in on a Bill proposed by the ruling party that would prohibit students from using personal digital devices during class.

According to the National Assembly and education circles on Nov 3, Representative Cho Jung-hun from the People Power Party introduced a Bill in August to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to restrict the use of smartphones in schools, adding an Article on guidance on students' use of cellphones.

"Students shall not use smart devices on school grounds. However, one can use it when permitted by the school principal and teachers for educational purposes or to respond to emergencies," the article states.

Such a proposal comes amid growing concerns over young students' dependence on smartphones, leading to various mental health issues, the lawmaker explained.

With games and short-form stimulating videos popular among young people, smartphone dependence has increased in recent years, leading to depression and anxiety disorders.

Joint research from Hanyang University Hospital on some 50,000 teenagers found that those who use smartphones for more than four hours a day are more likely to develop mental health problems. Prolonged smartphone use was linked to a range of mental and physical issues, including neuropsychiatric disorders, insomnia, blurred vision and musculoskeletal disorders.