Kim Youngho, Chair of the National Assembly's Education Committee Who Proposed a "Reading Nation," Publishes "Against Education"

"Current Education Cannot Nurture AI-Era Talent...
We Must Start Education Anew"


Proposing a Major Shift to Literacy-Centered Education

On May 7, Kim Youngho, Chair of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, who previously declared the advent of a "Reading Nation" and introduced a new educational paradigm for the AI era, published a book titled "Against Education."

The core of this book is its critique of the limitations of the existing education system in the era of AI transformation, and its proposal of a reading-centered "Reading Nation" theory.

Chairman Kim pointed out the current state of education, stating, "The ability to solve problems quickly has improved, but the capacity for independent thinking has actually weakened." He identified structural crises such as smartphone addiction, declining concentration, and growing literacy gaps. In particular, he stressed, "With the current admissions-focused education in Korea, it is impossible to nurture the talent required for the AI era," emphasizing the need for a fundamental reexamination of the existing education system.

Chairman Kim proposes reading as the solution to this crisis. He specifically defines the ages between 5 and 9 as the "golden time," a decisive period for forming reading habits, and analyzes that missing this period means subsequent education will merely struggle to keep up. He also presents concrete directions, suggesting that elementary education should focus on reading experiences, while secondary and higher education should prioritize the expansion of thinking skills.

He further emphasizes that individual efforts alone are insufficient, and structural changes across society are necessary. To this end, he proposes establishing a reading ecosystem that connects "reading families, reading communities, reading cities, and a reading nation," asserting that reading must be elevated as a core national competitiveness strategy.

One of the major policy proposals presented in the book is the "Alpha Phone Project." This initiative seeks to improve the environment for children and adolescents who are excessively exposed to smartphones and short-form content, by introducing safe digital devices designed for educational purposes and guiding young people towards reading-focused lifestyle habits.

Alongside this, Chairman Kim stresses that education should be viewed as a national future growth strategy. He outlines various policy directions, including building clusters linking universities and industries, innovating education to foster talent for the AI era, and expanding social inclusion through integrated education.

Chairman Kim stated, "This book is not meant to deny education, but to propose a new start for education in order to secure a better future for our children," adding, "Only education based on literacy and thinking skills can lead the AI era." He went on to say, "Education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about nurturing humanity, and the nation must take responsibility for redesigning its direction."

"Against Education" was written based on Chairman Kim’s accumulated experience in the field as the Chair of the National Assembly’s Education Committee, as well as his communication with parents, teachers, and students. The book is regarded as both a policy proposal addressing the essence and future of education, and a practical alternative for reform.

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