Lee Juho Expresses Deep Regret Over Passage of Amendment in Standing Committee
The partial amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which downgrades the legal status of the 'AI Digital Textbook (AIDT)' introduced by Minister of Education Lee Juho from a textbook to educational material, passed the plenary session of the National Assembly's Education Committee on July 10. The bill is also expected to pass the National Assembly's main session without difficulty, meaning that the AI textbook will likely lose its status as an official 'textbook.'
Lee Juho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, and others are taking an oath at the Education Committee hearing on Libax School held at the National Assembly on the 10th. From the left: Deputy Prime Minister Lee, Lee Sujeong, former policy advisor to the Ministry of Education, Jang Sinho, president of Seoul National University of Education, and Son Hyosook, CEO of Libax School. 2025.7.10 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On this day, the Education Committee of the National Assembly tabled and passed the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which defines the AI textbook as educational material, led by the ruling party.
The amendment directly stipulates in law the definition of textbooks, which had previously been set by enforcement ordinances, and specifies that matters pertaining to AI textbooks are to be included as 'educational materials,' not as textbooks.
According to the main contents, 'textbooks' are defined as textbooks or teacher's guides for which the state holds copyright or which have been reviewed or approved by the Minister of Education, but exclude learning support software and electronic publications utilizing intelligent information technology.
In addition, 'digital educational materials' may be used as supplementary materials for the curriculum, but neither the Minister of Education nor the superintendent of education may intervene in or exert influence over the use of these materials.
The supplementary provisions state that, once the law is implemented, any textbook that does not meet the revised criteria will no longer be considered a textbook. Currently, all 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education nationwide have adopted AI textbooks as official textbooks, but this means their textbook status will be revoked in the future. However, if a school principal deems them necessary for the curriculum, they may still be used as 'educational materials' after review by the school management committee.
After the bill passed, Minister Lee expressed strong regret, stating, "I deeply regret that the amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which downgrades the legal status of the AI textbook to educational material, has passed the standing committee."
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