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South Korea: cyberbullying law for schools
Bottom line for counselors: Schools must have anti-bullying rules, and those rules cover online bullying. Takedown help is limited, so report harmful posts to the platform first. Some online abuse can be a crime under general laws.
Last verified: checked against official sources on 11 November 2026.
Country
South Korea
New 1 March 2026: South Korea: law bans phones in class
A school violence law names cyberbullying, and a national law has banned phones in class since March 2026.
Compare with anywhere elseProtection score
One point for each of the seven questions answered yes, half a point for partly. Where a rule is set nationally, the national answer counts. A quick guide, not a legal rating.
- Yes:
Do schools have to have anti-bullying rules?
Yes. The Act on the Prevention of and Countermeasures against Violence in Schools (2004) requires every school to prevent and respond to school violence.
Legal detail and sources
Serious cases go to a deliberation committee at the local education office. From the 2026 admissions cycle, all universities must take school violence records into account.
- Yes:
Do those rules cover online bullying?
Yes. The Act lists cyberbullying among the forms of school violence, and anyone who learns of school violence must report it.
- Partly:
Is there a regulator that can get harmful posts taken down?
Partly. Korea's communications standards body can review harmful posts and ask platforms to delete or block them, but there is no dedicated takedown service for children.
- Partly:
Is there a minimum age for social media?
No social media minimum age yet, though apps need a parent's consent to collect data from children under 14. The regulator floated an under-14 sign-up limit in July 2026.
Legal detail and sources
A bill on age checks for large social media services was introduced in the National Assembly in October 2026.
- Yes:
What are the rules on phones at school?
Yes. Since March 2026 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act bans students' use of phones and smart devices in class, with exceptions for learning, disability and emergencies.
Legal detail and sources
Principals and teachers may also restrict devices elsewhere in school, and many schools have chosen full-day bans.
- Partly:
When is online abuse a crime?
Partly. There is no bullying offence, but online defamation, insults, threats, stalking and sharing sexual images are crimes. Children aged 10 to 13 receive juvenile protective measures instead of criminal punishment.
- Yes:
What guidance do staff and counselors get?
Yes. The Act requires school violence prevention education for students, staff and parents.
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