AI textbooks are on the verge of collapse despite the proposal of a "one-year grace period."

Introduction of AI Textbooks next year...There is a lot of concern behind the advantages
Concerns over a decline in digital device addiction and literacy are also raised
Opposition-led AI textbook status downgraded to 'educational materials'
AI Textbook Producers Likely To Bring Lawsuit Against Government

[Anchor]
AI digital textbooks, which the Ministry of Education said will be introduced in some grades starting next year, are on the verge of stranded.

As the problem of lack of preparation period has been raised, a bill that will be used as learning materials, not textbooks, is set to be passed by the National Assembly plenary session as early as next week.

I'm reporter Yeom Hye-won.

[Reporter]
It is an elementary school math class using AI digital textbooks.

The teacher displays class materials on a large monitor and explains them, and students solve problems with their own digital devices.

[Seol Ji-yu / 3rd grader at Munwon Elementary School in Gyeonggi Province: At school, it was a bit boring, but it was new to use a computer, so I listened to it better.]

Starting next year, we plan to hold such classes in the 3rd to 4th grades of elementary school and in the 1st grade of middle school and high school, but there were also many concerns behind the advantages of being able to educate by student level.

Typically, it's a matter of speed of deployment.

It is unreasonable to take classes from March with AI digital textbooks that were passed at the end of last month.

[Kim Kwang-sik / Namwon Elementary School teacher: Using AIDT or smart education is also a way of teaching, so I think teachers should first design classes and understand the curriculum beyond using AIDT]

There are also strong concerns about students' addiction to digital devices and poor literacy.

For this reason, the National Assembly has put the brakes on the introduction of AI digital textbooks led by the opposition party.

It is not a textbook that should be used by all students, but an educational material that is chosen at the discretion of the principal.

The amendment is set to pass next week's plenary session.

[Moon Jung-bok / Rep. of the Democratic Party of Korea (last 17th): First of all, it is not too late to go to educational materials and adopt them as textbooks after they have been sufficiently verified. / 90% of the teachers who went to the demonstration opposed the introduction of AI digital textbooks.

The Ministry of Education has tried to persuade the government to accept the status of textbooks but put a year next year as a grace period, but it is unlikely to be accepted.

[Lee Joo-ho / Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (last 17th): What is the problem with educational materials, and because of the textbook, the government's strict regulations and protections can be entered accordingly. Like children's personal information issues....]

If the bill is passed, companies that have spent a huge amount of money developing AI digital textbooks will be willing to sue.

A proposal to propose a request for reconsideration to Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, the acting presidential authority, is also discussed, but considering the current political situation, even this is not expected to be easy.

I'm Yum Hyewon of YTN.

Reporter for shooting
: Si Chulwoo
Video editing: Han Kyung-hee