Human Rights Commission: "Ban on Mobile Phone Use in High School Dormitories Violates Freedom of Communication"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that the regulation completely banning the use of mobile phones and electronic devices in high school dormitories infringes on the freedom of communication.

On the 11th, the Human Rights Commission announced that it recommended the principal of High School A in Gyeongbuk, who prohibited students from possessing and using mobile phones and electronic devices in the dormitory, to cease the restrictive actions and revise the related regulations. The commission stated, "In modern society, electronic devices serve not only as tools for learning but also as means to obtain information related to personal interests and hobbies, through which individuals can develop aptitudes or pursue happiness." It added, "Rather than completely banning the possession and use of electronic devices, it is desirable to educate students to develop the ability to control and manage their own desires and behaviors."

Earlier, Mr. B, a student attending High School A, filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, claiming that the school's excessive regulations, which prohibited the use of personal mobile phones not only during class but also during dormitory hours, infringed on students' rights. High School A allowed mobile phone use only during certain hours on Sundays, and electronic devices such as laptops and tablet PCs could only be used in designated dormitory Wi-Fi zones. Violations resulted in confiscation of the devices for one month.

The principal of High School A argued that students could use their mobile phones outside the designated hours with homeroom teacher permission, and if a call was necessary, they could use the public phones installed on campus. He also stated that using electronic devices outside the designated areas was often unrelated to academic purposes. However, the Human Rights Commission judged, "Even if the necessity to restrict students' possession and use of mobile phones and electronic devices on campus is recognized, completely restricting their use during dormitory life after school hours violates the principle of proportionality and infringes on general freedom of action and freedom of communication."

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