Primary and secondary school students in Seoul will be able to abandon their drab uniform to freely choose what to wear and how to style their hair from next year, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Wednesday.
The education office announced a new ordinance draft designed to promote students’ basic human rights. Under the ordinance, which it plans to seek approval at the Seoul Metropolitan Council in November, restrictions on dress codes, hairstyles and even rallies inside campus will be abolished.
At the same time, they will be able to carry cellular phones and other electronic gadgets at their own discretion.
The ordinance strictly bans teachers from using any forms of physical punishment on students. The ban on corporal punishment will also be applied to private cram schools or “hagwon,” it said.
The ordinance also bans schools from obliging students to attend after-hour classes.
After holding a series of hearings the education office will finalize the ordinance next month.
