[Lee Jae-min] Smartphone bans in schools

A new global trend is taking hold. An increasing number of countries are adopting or considering measures to ban or restrict student smartphone use. The driving force is clear: Smart devices negatively affect the mental development and health of the younger generation. According to data from the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, updated in March 2026, 114 out of 197 education systems (58 percent) have now instituted national restrictions on mobile phones in schools. Korea recently joine