Students attend a class at a middle school. Yonhap

A recent decision by the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) has reignited heated debates over the mandatory collection of mobile phones in schools here.

For the first time in 10 years, the commission ruled that a high school's policy of collecting phones during school hours does not constitute a human rights violation, marking a sharp reversal of its previous stance stated in 2014.

The ruling came after a high school student in South Jeolla Province filed a complaint in March 2022, arguing that collecting phones during school hours infringed on students' rights.

On Oct. 7, the commission dismissed the complaint in an 8-2 vote, with the majority citing that phone use during class disrupts the right to education.

However, critics contend that this decision lacks adequate justification, arguing that students should be encouraged to self-regulate their phone usage instead of facing blanket restrictions.

Some educators, like Cho Young-sun, 47, a teacher at a high school in Seoul, question the ruling's consistency with modern educational trends, pointing out that smartphones and AI-based learning tools are being integrated into classrooms.

"The disruption to class can be managed by restricting phone use during lessons, and this decision contradicts the push for more technology-driven education," Cho said.

Advocates for students' rights also emphasize the need to foster the self-control of students rather than imposing uniform bans.

Others, like 16-year-old Kim Do-heon, argue that the decision overlooks the positive aspects of phone use, such as safety.

Kim recalled a time when he was unable to prove a teacher's coercion of religious practices due to a lack of evidence, saying, "The decision seems to overemphasize the negative aspects of phones."

Parents have also voiced concerns. Lee Yoon-kyung, head of the National Parents' Association for True Education, said, "There are times when children need to urgently contact their parents, and the mandatory collection of phones makes this difficult, creating anxiety for both students and parents."

On the other hand, many teachers support the ruling, citing the need for better classroom control. A teacher from Gangwon Province, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared that they frequently catch students watching YouTube or messaging others during class and struggle with resistance from students when trying to enforce the rules.

Another teacher from Busan said, "This decision could strengthen both teaching authority and a student's right to a focused learning environment."

However, some fear that the ruling may reflect a conservative shift in the NHRCK under its newly appointed chair, Ahn Chang-ho, who took office last month.

A coalition of 35 human rights and civil society organizations condemned the decision, calling it a "regressive move" and accusing Ahn of reversing the commission's previous recommendations.

In defense of the ruling, a commission member who participated in the deliberation clarified that the decision is not intended to overturn past rulings and will not set a precedent for future cases.

Another NHRCK official said that future judgments will consider the specific circumstances of individual schools and that concerns from dissenting members will be included in the final decision document.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.