"From Law Revision to Team Disbandment"… Companies Facing Aftershocks of AI Textbooks

Textbook Publishers Face Uncertainty Over Next Year's Investment Plans
Confusion Grows Amid Wait-and-See Approach to Policy Implementation
National Assembly Holds 'Digital Textbook' Hearing Today

As conflicts between the National Assembly and the government over AI (Artificial Intelligence) digital textbooks continue, aftershocks are spreading throughout the education sector. The government plans to push for the introduction of AI digital textbooks next year as well, expanding the applicable subjects and target schools, but with the feasibility of this initiative becoming uncertain, confusion among publishers persists.

According to education sources on the 17th, many companies, including those that passed and those that did not pass the government’s textbook certification, are undergoing organizational restructuring. This is because the original government policy plan has encountered setbacks, making it difficult to establish investment plans for next year.

A representative from Publisher A, which passed the certification, said, "For the subject development teams excluding math, English, and information subjects, they have been converted into general textbook development teams, and the remaining related teams are maintained with minimal personnel."

A representative from Publisher B, which failed the certification this time, stated, "The digital textbook team was completely disbanded, and related personnel were let go from the company."

AI digital textbook prototype demonstration. Photo by Yonhap News.

Last November, reflecting criticism from some in the education sector, the government excluded Korean language and technology & home economics (sil-gwa) subjects, which were initially targeted for AI digital textbook introduction, from the AI digital textbook application subjects, deciding to apply digital textbooks only to English, math, and information subjects this year. It also announced plans to apply them to social studies and science subjects starting in 2027.

Meanwhile, the policy was stalled when the National Assembly passed an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that downgraded the status of textbooks to educational materials. The government plans to exercise its right to request reconsideration on the 21st, but detailed procedures such as textbook subscription fee negotiations and school field implementation are currently on hold.

A representative from Publisher C, which passed the certification, said, "If full implementation does not happen this year, there is no guarantee what will happen next year," adding, "Reducing the market that was initially promised violates the principle of trust." A representative from Publisher D also said, "For now, we are maintaining the team and monitoring the situation."

On the morning of the same day, the National Assembly’s Education Committee will hold a hearing related to AI digital textbooks. The committee plans to focus questions on the government’s policy implementation process, procedures, and concerns. Eighteen witnesses, including Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, some provincial education superintendents, representatives of AI textbook development companies, and current teachers, as well as 13 reference persons, will attend the hearing.

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