Ministry of Education: 32.3% of Schools Selected AI Textbooks... Usage Fee Up to 57,500 Won

"The selection rate will rise with additional selections"
Agreement reached on usage fees for 74 out of 76 types of AI textbooks
Usage fees set between 29,750 and 57,500 KRW

The Ministry of Education announced that 32.3% of schools have selected AI digital textbooks, which will be voluntarily introduced in some grades of elementary, middle, and high schools starting from the new semester in March. Agreements on usage fees have been reached with textbook publishers for 74 out of 76 types of AI textbooks, and the remaining two will be announced on-site once agreements are finalized.

On the 20th, the Ministry of Education stated that as of the 17th, 3,849 schools (32.3%) out of a total of 11,921 schools have either selected or plan to select AI textbooks.

Daegu showed the highest selection rate at 98%, with 458 out of 466 schools having selected the textbooks. This was followed by Gangwon (49%), and Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk (45%).

The lowest selection rate was in Sejong, at only 8%. Jeonnam and Gyeongnam also had low rates of 9% and 10%, respectively.

The Ministry of Education said, "Considering that schools must go through the curriculum council and school operation committee review procedures to select AI textbooks, the selection rate is expected to increase further."

On the same day, the Ministry also disclosed the first agreed price list for 74 out of the 76 AI textbooks. The Ministry explained, "We formed a negotiation team with metropolitan and provincial offices of education and the National Association of Metropolitan and Provincial Superintendents of Education, and conducted five rounds of price negotiations with textbook publishers," adding, "As a result, usage fees for 74 out of 76 types were agreed upon."

According to this, the price per individual textbook was set between 29,750 and 57,500 KRW. The AI textbook prices will be finalized through the Textbook Deliberation Committee under the regulations on textbooks and published in the official gazette.

The Ministry stated, "Cloud usage fees and prices for the remaining two types will be announced on-site as soon as agreements are reached."

The Ministry plans to conduct a two-week pilot operation (from the 17th to the 28th) for schools that have selected AI textbooks. Through this pilot, teachers can experience the entire process from accessing the AI textbook portal to utilizing the materials, propose improvements, preview the 2025 curriculum, and prepare for classes and assessments.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, said, "When AI textbooks are used in schools, students will receive learning materials tailored to their individual learning levels, increasing their interest, and teachers will be able to refer to students’ learning analysis data to teach content needed for each student." He added, "By 2025, we will actively support all schools that wish to select and utilize AI textbooks."

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