■ Physical Unveiling at Schools Next Month on the 2nd
Adoption for English, Math, and Information Technology in the First Semester of Next Year
Implementation After Selection Procedures at Each School
Challenges from Opposition, such as the Enforced ‘Education Material Regulation’
Ministry of Education to Adjust Pace Due to Concerns of Field Confusion
The ‘Artificial Intelligence (AI) Digital Textbook’ set to be used in schools nationwide from March next year has been finalized and announced in the official gazette at midnight on the 29th. The Ministry of Education stated that 76 types of AI textbooks have passed the final certification review, and the physical copies will be unveiled at schools starting next week. However, there is a risk the AI textbooks may be reclassified from official textbooks to ‘educational materials,’ and there are considerations to postpone the introduction schedule to 2026, posing challenges to their actual implementation.
The Ministry announced that 76 types of AI textbooks for math, English, and information technology for 3rd and 4th graders in elementary school, 1st-year middle school students, and 1st-year high school students have passed the final review certification. The Korea Science and Creativity Foundation reviewed math and information technology while the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation conducted the review for English, both commissioned by the Ministry. Out of 146 proposed versions from 21 companies, 76 (52.1%) passed the review. In terms of publishers, 27 types from Jaeneung Education and Jaeneung Textbook passed the review, excluding middle school information subjects. Additionally, YBM Textbook had 16 types, and Visang Education had 7 types passing in 5 subjects each. Other publishers like Donga Publishing, Icecream Media, NE Neungyule, Jihaksa, Kyohaksa, MiraeN, Classting, and Keumseong Publishing also received passing notifications for individual subjects.
The review evaluated whether the AI textbooks were structured for effective personalized learning according to the curriculum and whether the learning support functions were properly implemented. The approved AI textbooks will be displayed in web form starting December 2nd and undergo adoption procedures at each school to be used in the new semester next year.
Despite the imminent public reveal of the AI textbooks, smooth implementation by March next year is uncertain. The National Assembly’s Education Committee led by the opposition recently passed an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, classifying AI textbooks as educational materials. If AI textbooks are reclassified as educational materials rather than official textbooks, schools would not be obligated to use them, which has prompted opposition from the Ministry of Education and the ruling party. Local education offices also express concerns about potential confusion in implementation, leading the Ministry to plan adjustments to the introduction schedule until post-2026. The introduction of Korean language and technology/home economics subjects is being considered for cancellation, while social studies and science subjects might have their introduction delayed to 2027.