Democratic Party launches 'Alpha Phone Project' TF to develop student-only smartphones

The Democratic Party of Korea is moving to formally explore the introduction of student-only smartphones designed to reduce children's and teenagers' excessive smartphone use and exposure to harmful content. The party plans to form an internal task force to discuss specific implementation measures and policy support.

Park Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, told reporters Friday after a closed-door supreme council meeting at the National Assembly that the party would establish a task force for the student-only smartphone "Alpha Phone Project," to be headed by lawmaker Kim Young-ho.

The Alpha Phone Project aims to restrict the functions available on smartphones used by children and teenagers to prevent overuse and exposure to harmful content. Kim has argued for the need to introduce student-only smartphones, citing what he described as a serious and worsening problem of smartphone addiction and harmful content exposure among children.

The TF is expected to examine the specific features and rollout methods for a student-only smartphone, as well as potential cooperation with the government and the telecommunications industry.

The Democratic Party also moved Friday to reorganize its youth-related bodies. It appointed lawmaker Baek Seung-a as chair of the Youth Future Roundtable, lawmaker Kwon Hyang-yeop as chair of the small and medium-sized enterprises special committee, lawmaker Bu Seung-chan as chair of the Northeast Asia special committee, and lawmaker Lee Ju-hee as chair of the information and communications special committee.

The location of the party's second office, a project championed by party leader Kim Min-seok, will also shift from Gwanghwamun in Seoul to near Hapjeong Station. The party said it had initially considered a Gwanghwamun location but changed course to improve accessibility for younger people.

The second office will be named "Hub 123," a title meant to reflect its focus on people in their teens through their 30s. The party envisions operating it as a "youth civic party office" where young people can directly contribute their views to the policymaking process.