South Korea Removes AI-Generated Textbooks from Official Curriculum
After strong criticism from teachers and parents, South Korea’s National Assembly voted on 4 August to amend the education law, stripping AI-generated textbooks of their official status. These materials will now only be permitted as “supplementary learning resources” rather than recognised textbooks.
The Korean Teachers’ Federation stressed that it was not opposed to digital innovation in education, but argued that the AI-prepared textbooks had been introduced without sufficient preparation or evaluation, placing an additional burden on teachers.
Alex Kotran, CEO of the US-based AI Education Project, said the move was not surprising. “Research shows that the best outcomes are achieved in teacher-centred classrooms. Focusing solely on technology without adequate professional training and support weakens the process,” he explained. Kotran further warned that although AI can help students acquire workforce-ready skills, relying on it to replace teachers remains a risky and unproven approach.