6 hours Ago By Korea Bizwire
Smartphone Use Fueling Tensions Between Teachers and Students, Survey Finds (Image created by ChatGPT) SEOUL, May 1 (Korea Bizwire) — More than six in ten South Korean teachers say they have experienced conflict with students over smartphone use during class, highlighting growing concerns about discipline and safety in schools. According to a survey released Tuesday by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, 61.3% of 2,605 teachers — including those from kindergartens, elementary, middle, high, and special education schools — reported having clashed with students over mobile phone usage during lessons.
The poll was conducted between April 21 and 25, 2025. An even larger proportion, 72.9%, said such conflicts are increasing in frequency, while 84.
1% indicated that allowing students to manage their own phones — rather than schools collecting them at the start of the day — exacerbates tensions between teachers and students. Nearly 69% of respondents also observed that students communicate more positively with peers when phones are collected. Beyond phone-related disputes, the report revealed a broader pattern of verbal and physical aggression toward educators.
More than two-thirds (67.7%) said they had been subjected to verbal abuse from students while attempting to enforce discipline. Alarmingly, nearly a quarter (22.
9%) said they had been physically assaulted by students during such incidents. A significant 76.8% of teachers expressed concern that physical violence could occur while supervising students.
The teachers’ union called on education authorities to take stronger action, emphasizing the need for systemic support to help schools jointly address escalating student violence and maintain a safe learning environment. Lina Jang ([email protected]).
