National Assembly Downgrades AI Textbooks to 'Educational Materials'... Education Act Amendment Passed

The legal status of artificial intelligence (AI) digital textbooks has been downgraded to 'educational materials.' By defining AI textbooks as educational materials rather than textbooks, schools nationwide are no longer obligated to adopt these materials.

On the 26th, the National Assembly announced that it had passed nine partial amendments to laws under the Ministry of Education, including the Elementary and Secondary Education Act amendment that defines AI textbooks as educational materials, as well as two newly enacted laws such as the Student Customized Integrated Support Act, during the plenary session.

The amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act directly specifies the definition and scope of textbooks in the law, limiting them to books and e-books. Accordingly, AI textbooks were defined as educational materials. It was determined that AI textbooks do not hold the status of textbooks.

E-books are defined as audio recordings, videos, or electronic media containing textbook content, published so that students can read, watch, or listen using computers or other information processing devices. Additionally, the decision to use AI textbooks is left to the discretion of school principals, not the Minister of Education.

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The amendment also newly establishes a definition for educational materials, effectively including learning support software utilizing intelligent information technology under the Basic Act on Intelligent Informatization, which refers to AI textbooks. This law will be applied retroactively to AI textbooks that have already passed certification.

As a result, the Ministry of Education's plan to uniformly introduce AI textbooks in English, mathematics, and information subjects for 3rd to 4th graders in elementary school, 1st graders in middle school, and 1st graders in high school starting next academic year is expected to face significant setbacks.

Furthermore, on the same day, the National Assembly also passed partial amendments to the Framework Act on Education, the Special Act on the Establishment and Operation of Urban Campuses, and the Private School Act. The Framework Act on Education, proposed by Kang Kyung-sook of the Innovation Party for Justice, includes provisions to strengthen protection of teachers' authority in student education and guidance. According to Representative Kang, there have been cases where teachers suffer from complaints and excessive interference from parents and others during the process of student life guidance and educational activities.

Therefore, it is stipulated that protection of teachers' educational activities and authority over student life guidance at schools must be guaranteed according to laws and school regulations, enabling teachers to devote themselves to educational activities with a sense of mission.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.