Gyeonggi Province pushes phone-free school policy

Gyeonggi Province's education office is pushing ahead with a "phone-free school" initiative that would restrict students' mobile phone use during the school day — one of Superintendent Ahn Min-seok's flagship campaign pledges — drawing mixed reactions over whether the policy is enforceable and legally valid.

The initiative aims to limit phone use at elementary, middle and high schools across the province to support learning, strengthen interpersonal relationships and restore the educational environment.

It has gained momentum as students spend increasing amounts of time on smartphones, exposing them not only to excessive screen use but also to online gambling, fraud, deepfake-related crimes and even prostitution, prompting continued calls for stronger regulation of smartphone use among students.

According to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by the education office from June 27 to 29, 77.3 percent said schools should collect and store students' mobile phones during the school day to protect the right to learn.

Support was even higher among parents, with 84 percent backing the measur ...