The "Partial Amendment Bill of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Alternative)" that passed through the National Assembly's Education Committee on July 8 prohibits the use of smartphones during classes for elementary, middle, and high school students and also allows restrictions on the possession of devices according to school regulations. However, it includes a provision recognizing exceptions for students with disabilities or those in need of special education. In response to this, the Jeonbuk Teachers' Union raised concerns about discrimination and the violation of rights, leading to backlash from the Disability Rights Association.

The Disability Rights Association mentioned the Jeonbuk Teachers' Union's strong advocacy for teachers' political rights in the past, stating that they agree that teachers, as citizens, should also be guaranteed political rights. However, they strongly criticized the union for attempting to infringe on students' basic rights under the pretext of "school order" and "control," which they deemed a clear contradiction and a regression of democracy. They further added that this reveals power imbalances within the educational community.

Following a positive comment from the Jeonbuk Teachers' Union welcoming the amendment, they later raised issues regarding the provision recognizing exceptions for students with disabilities and those in special classes, expressing concerns about discrimination. In particular, they mentioned a recent incident involving the recording of a webtoon artist's child, arguing that allowing smartphone use for students with disabilities could lead to an infringement of school authority. In response, the Disability Rights Association countered that using individual cases as a basis to restrict the rights of all students with disabilities is a serious form of generalization and a frame of hatred.

Choi Chang-hyun, the head of the Disability Rights Association, criticized the Jeonbuk Teachers' Union for considering the exception clause for smartphone use by students with disabilities as discrimination, stating that it reveals a misunderstanding of students with disabilities.

The Disability Rights Association emphasized that students are also citizens and their basic rights should not be excluded, urging the National Assembly to withdraw the amendment that seeks to restrict smartphone use through legislation.

Meanwhile, various civic and educational organizations in Jeonbuk, including the Education Community Nada, Jeonbuk Youth Human Rights Group Magma, Jeonbuk Peace and Human Rights Association, and Jeonbuk Parents' Association, jointly issued a statement on the 11th criticizing the passage of the bill in the National Assembly as "anti-human rights." They argued that smartphones have become essential tools for education and learning after COVID-19, and restricting them through legislation constitutes a clear violation of equal rights.

These organizations pointed out that the issue of students' smartphone use should be regulated through autonomous agreements among school members and not by the state through legislation. They also emphasized that problems related to smartphone use in schools should be addressed through individual cases and a democratic educational process.

In particular, the joint statement stated that blocking the freedom of communication, expression, and action guaranteed by the constitution solely on the grounds of being a student is no different from a state of emergency, emphasizing the need to redefine schools as spaces for learning democracy rather than control and oppression.