Lee Ju-ho proposes to opposition parties to 'introduce AI textbook status a year later'

Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho visited opposition lawmakers of the National Assembly Education Committee today (23rd) and proposed a one-year grace period for the full introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks.

The Education Ministry said the minister proposed to delay the full introduction of AI textbooks by a year to 2026 while maintaining their "textbook" status, and instead allow schools to choose whether to introduce them autonomously next year.

In addition, he said he explained to lawmakers that if AI textbooks are granted status as educational materials, only some schools will be used, which could deepen the educational gap in the future.

The "Amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act," which defines AI textbooks as educational materials, was proposed by Democratic lawmakers and passed the National Assembly's Education Committee and the Judiciary Committee one after another to be submitted to the plenary session.