Artificial intelligence-based learning content is on display at an education fair in the southeastern city of Busan on Feb. 21, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 10 (Korea Bizwire) — A parliamentary committee on Thursday passed a bill that classifies artificial intelligence (AI)-generated educational resources as “education materials” rather than official textbooks, rolling back the previous administration’s plan to introduce AI digital textbooks nationwide.
During the committee’s plenary session, the ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the minor Rebuilding Korea Party passed the bill amid resistance from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP).
“The DP is not against AI textbooks themselves,” DP Rep. Baek Seung-ah said at the session. “We are against the fact that an enormous amount of money, budget and efforts were put into creating textbooks with such low quality.”
The DP said it came to the decision to pass the revision to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act after sufficient deliberation and discussions under the current administration.
PPP lawmakers denounced the ruling party’s move as a setback for classroom innovation, despite the global shift toward AI-based learning.
They also criticized the DP for scrapping a major policy overnight just because of a change in administration, arguing that AI textbooks are meant to promote equal educational opportunities for the underprivileged.
The bill earlier passed the Assembly under the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration but was scrapped after a presidential veto.
The DP is seeking to pass the revision at a plenary session scheduled for July 23
(Yonhap)
