Backlash Against AI Textbooks: Schools and Teachers Resist

South Korea is embarking on one of the most ambitious educational reforms in its history. From 2025, AI-powered digital textbooks will be introduced in schools nationwide, starting with English, Mathematics, and Information Technologyfor elementary, middle, and high school students. The government promotes this shift as a way to personalize learning, modernize classrooms, and bridge educational gaps.

However, the initiative is facing strong resistance from schools, teachers, and parents alike. While AI textbooks promise adaptive learning and real-time feedback, many educators question their effectiveness and necessity. Some schools are reluctant to implement them, citing concerns over academic performance, screen dependency, and lack of proper infrastructure. In certain regions, schools are actively rejecting AI textbooks, choosing to stick with traditional paper-based materials.

Is this technological leap truly the future of education, or is it an experiment forced upon schools with little consideration for its real impact?

Across the country, many schools have expressed reluctance in adopting AI textbooks, with some even opting out altogether. While the Ministry of Education has ensured that digital textbooks will complement, rather than replace, traditional materials, educators remain skeptical.

Across the country, many schools have expressed reluctance in adopting AI textbooks, with some even opting out altogether. While the Ministry of Education has ensured that digital textbooks will complement, rather than replace, traditional materials, educators remain skeptical.

According to government data, only 32.4% of schools nationwide have agreed to introduce AI textbooks for the upcoming academic year. However, regional adoption rates vary significantly, revealing stark differences in policy and local decision-making.

In Busan, for instance, 35% of schools have agreed to introduce AI textbooks, despite the government’s push for a wider rollout. In contrast, Daegu has reported a near 100% adoption rate, making it the only city in South Korea where every school has selected AI textbooks. Other regions, such as Seoul (24%), Incheon (20%), and Gwangju (12%), report far lower adoption rates, signaling strong resistance from educators.

"We are already struggling with balancing digital learning and traditional methods," said a high school principal in Seoul. "Forcing AI textbooks into our curriculum without a clear roadmap for teacher training or infrastructure support is unrealistic."

Many educators fear that AI textbooks will shift the burden of teaching from teachers to algorithms, reducing their role in the classroom and creating a learning environment that lacks human interaction.

"AI cannot replace a teacher’s ability to understand students emotionally," argued a veteran educator in Busan. "No algorithm can recognize the frustration in a student’s eyes or encourage them like a real person can.

Why Daegu Schools Adopted AI Textbooks at an Unprecedented Rate

While most regions have embraced AI textbooks cautiously, Daegu stands out as the only city where nearly 100% of schools have adopted them. However, this unprecedented adoption rate has sparked controversy and accusations of coercion from local educators.

Teachers’ unions and education groups in Daegu argue that the city’s education office pressured schools into adopting AI textbooks, despite the Ministry of Education’s guidelines stating that selection should be voluntary.

"Each school should have had the right to decide, yet the Daegu Education Office made it clear that AI textbooks were expected to be adopted across all schools," said a spokesperson from the Daegu branch of the Korean Teachers’ Union.

The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education has strongly denied any allegations of forced selection, stating that high adoption rates reflect Daegu’s commitment to future-oriented education policies.

"Daegu’s education policy has been focused on digital transformation for years," a city education official stated. "Schools made their own decisions, and while some teachers opposed AI textbooks, the overall direction of education in Daegu supports their implementation."

However, critics argue that the Daegu Education Office actively influenced school administrators to align with the city’s broader "future education strategy." Some teachers claim that school principals were under pressure to follow the education office’s directives, sidelining teachers' concerns.

"Teachers who opposed AI textbooks felt ignored," said a representative from a Daegu teachers’ union. "This was not a true voluntary selection process."

The controversy has fueled discussions on educational autonomy, with some teachers considering legal action against the Daegu Education Office for overstepping its authority.

The Disadvantages of a Digital-Only Approach

While the government insists that AI textbooks will enhance learning, numerous studies suggest otherwise. In Finland and Sweden, where digital-first education was initially embraced, students' reading comprehension and problem-solving skills declined. As a result, these countries have scaled back digital learning and reintroduced traditional textbooks.

Educators in South Korea worry that a similar outcome could occur. AI textbooks, which provide instant answers and solutions, may weaken students’ problem-solving abilities.

"If students always have an AI-powered tool telling them what they got wrong and how to fix it, they lose the ability to think critically and independently," said a university professor in education policy.

Additionally, the increased use of digital materials raises concerns about students' health. Prolonged screen time can lead to eye strain, reduced attention spans, and sleep disruption. With smartphones and tablets already dominating students’ daily lives, the introduction of AI textbooks further amplifies digital dependency.

"We should be reducing screen time, not increasing it," a concerned parent in Busan commented. "Children need to engage with the real world, not just stare at screens all day."

What Comes Next? A Compromise or a Standoff?

With the growing backlash, the government is under pressure to adjust its AI textbook rollout plan. Instead of full-scale adoption, experts recommend a hybrid approach, where AI textbooks are introduced gradually and selectively, depending on school preferences and infrastructure readiness.

Some education officials are considering allowing schools to opt-in voluntarily, while also expanding teacher training programs to better integrate AI into classrooms.

However, with many schools already refusing to implement AI textbooks, the government faces a major challenge in convincing educators and parents that this is the right path forward.

As South Korea navigates this digital transformation, the debate over AI textbooks is far from settled. Schools want more control over how they implement technology in the classroom, parents demand assurances on data privacy and student well-being, and students themselves may soon have their own opinions on whether AI truly enhances their learning—or simply makes it easier to cut corners.

Will AI textbooks redefine education, or will they become an expensive miscalculation? The answer will unfold in classrooms across South Korea in the coming years.