Seoul to Launch AI-Based Grading System for Essay Exams in Schools (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, August 5 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced plans on Sunday to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can grade students’ essay and short-answer responses and provide personalized feedback, marking a significant shift in how academic assessments are conducted in the South Korean capital.
The AI-based evaluation platform will automatically assess students’ written answers based on standardized rubrics and the newly revised 2022 national curriculum. It will also offer tailored feedback and generate performance reports for individual learners.
The project, launched in partnership with a private firm specializing in AI grading technology, includes collaboration from South Korean tech giant Naver. According to officials, the AI system will incorporate key functions such as: creative problem-solving assessment, achievement-based scoring, feedback automation, and long-term data tracking.
To ensure accuracy, developers will train the AI using real-world data—students’ written responses, teacher evaluations, and editing annotations. Starting in August 2025, a panel of university professors and top teachers will design standardized questions and scoring criteria aligned with the national curriculum.
A pilot program is slated for implementation next year in 66 elementary, middle, and high schools, covering subjects including Korean, math, social studies, and science. The initiative is expected to roll out more broadly across Seoul’s public schools by 2027.
Seoul’s Education Superintendent Jung Keun-sik said the system represents a critical step toward modernizing education in the age of rapid technological change. “As we enter a new era, we must redesign both our evaluation systems and college admissions,” Jung said. “This AI-assisted platform will serve as a vital foundation for future-ready student assessment.”
The education office also plans to expand classes that promote critical thinking—such as debates, projects, and inquiry-based learning—and integrate more essay-based testing aligned with these pedagogical shifts.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
