As the new semester begins, the use of smart devices in schools is legally restricted

- In March, a total of 118 statutes, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, will come into effect.

Starting in March, various measures aimed at strengthening public interest in the fields of education, environment, and energy will be implemented, including restrictions on the use of smart devices by students within schools, introduction of a planned site establishment system to promote the distribution of offshore wind power, and support for the installation of collection points for discarded fishing gear. The Ministry of Government Legislation (Minister Cho Won-cheol) announced that a total of 118 statutes will take effect this February. Some of the key details and enforcement dates of the forthcoming statutes are as follows.

Establishment of a Legal Basis for Restricting Students' Use of Smart Devices on School Premises (Elementary and Secondary Education Act, March 1)

In consideration of the growing negative impact of smart device use on students' academic performance and emotional well-being, the law explicitly restricts students' use of such devices within schools. In principle, students are not permitted to use smart devices during class. However, exceptions are allowed for students with disabilities or those requiring special education assistive tools, or for emergency situations, provided that such use is authorized by a teacher.

Promoting the Planned Establishment of Sites to Facilitate the Distribution of Offshore Wind Power (Special Act on the Promotion and Industrial Development of Offshore Wind Power, March 26)

A special law will come into force to promote the deployment of offshore wind power and support the offshore wind industry through the planned development of offshore wind farm sites. The Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries will jointly operate an offshore wind site information network that includes data on wind conditions, fishing activities, and the marine environment. In addition, a public-private consultative body led by local governments and involving relevant stakeholders will be established and operated to enhance the acceptability of offshore wind power projects. Furthermore, the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment will foster the offshore wind industry by training specialized personnel and designating specialized research institutions.

Support for the Installation of Collection Points for Discarded Fishing Gear to Reduce Marine Pollution (Fisheries Act, March 17)

To reduce marine pollution caused by fishing gear discarded at sea, the government will provide financial support for the installation of collection points that gather and process such gear. Discarded fishing gear can cause injuries to marine life when left in the ocean, and since a large portion of it is made of plastic, it is a major contributor to marine environmental pollution. According to current laws and regulations, the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, as well as provincial governors, mayors, or heads of districts/counties, are allowed to install and operate collection points for gathering and processing discarded fishing gear. However, there have been calls to increase the number of collection sites in order to improve the collection rate. Going forward, the government may subsidize the total or partial cost of installing collection points by provincial governors, mayors, or heads of districts/counties, which is expected to promote the establishment of such facilities.

Mandatory Disclosure of Used Car Sales Types (Enforcement Rules of the Motor Vehicle Management Act, March 23)

To prevent consumer confusion arising from online advertisements that do not clearly indicate whether a used car is owned by the advertiser or by someone else, the law will be amended to require car dealers to specify the type of sale when advertising used cars online. When posting an advertisement, car dealers must indicate whether they are conducting "direct sale" of their own vehicles or acting as a "broker" for a third party vehicle. If the owner of the brokered vehicle is a car dealer, the advertisement must also include the business name of that dealer.