InterviewDaegu moves forward with AI textbooks, responds to growing cultural diversity in classrooms

Kang Eun-hee, superintendent of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the education office building, April 16. Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education

Korea’s education system is undergoing a significant transformation with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the rising number of students from multicultural backgrounds.

Amid these shifts, the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education is accelerating the rollout of AI-based digital textbooks (AIDT) to offer personalized learning tailored to individual students' levels.

"Customized education that reflects each student’s learning pace and needs is the ideal, and AI technology marks a critical turning point in achieving that goal," said Kang Eun-hee, superintendent of the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, in an interview with The Korea Times.

"While AI digital textbooks still require further development, they hold the potential to greatly enhance public education and ease the burden of excessive reliance on private tutoring."

A student participates in a class using an artificial intelligence digital textbook at Deokhwa Middle School in Daegu, April 10. Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education

Daegu has recorded the highest adoption rate of these textbooks in the country, reaching 98 percent — significantly higher than the national average of 32.3 percent.

Kang attributed this achievement to the region’s early investment in digital infrastructure and a comprehensive training system that prepared schools for a smooth transition to AI-driven learning.

"Integrating cutting-edge technology into education is no longer optional — it’s inevitable," Kang said. "The COVID-19 pandemic normalized the use of digital tools, making this shift not only timely but necessary."

She emphasized that the city’s ability to rapidly adopt the AIDT system stemmed from its proactive approach. The education office prioritized teacher training from the outset, focusing on how educators could redesign and restructure their lessons to align with the new digital environment.

"We focused on equipping teachers with the skills to design and restructure lessons in line with the new digital learning environment," she said.

In addition to training teachers, the education office extended learning programs to include parents, school principals, members of school steering committees, administrative staff and office managers. This all-encompassing approach fostered a broader understanding of AIDT, easing concerns and facilitating widespread acceptance across the school community.

"Parents were initially concerned about students using digital devices like tablets, laptops and smartphones in class," Kang explained. "We addressed these concerns by showing exactly how AIDTs function in classrooms and how students actively engage with them."

The system includes real-time monitoring of student progress and the ability for teachers to manage student devices during class. Parents can also view their children’s learning status through the platform, offering them a new level of insight into classroom learning.

"When we clearly explained these features, many parents who had felt uneasy began to understand the benefits and became more supportive," Kang said.

She also expressed anticipation that AIDT could significantly reduce learning gaps compared to traditional print-based instruction as the system enables data-driven, personalized lessons tailored to each student's level, helping to narrow achievement disparities within classrooms.

"This approach will help reduce reliance on private tutoring, easing the burden of private education costs for families," she added.

A view of the Korean Language Education Center in Daegu, housed in a former middle school building / Courtesy of Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education

Another notable trend in Daegu’s education landscape is the rise in the number of students from multicultural backgrounds.

According to the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, the number of multicultural students increased from 5,931 in 2021 to 7,246 in 2024.

Among them, the number of students from foreign families has grown dramatically, more than doubling from 559 in 2021 to 1,114 this year.

High schools have experienced the largest surge, with multicultural student enrollment rising from 408 in 2021 to 883 in 2024.

In response to these demographic shifts, the education office has expanded its efforts to promote multicultural awareness through a range of educational programs.

These include the integration of multicultural education into the formal curriculum, as well as the expansion of global citizenship education centers and cross-cultural understanding initiatives aimed at fostering cultural coexistence.

To improve the teachers' cultural sensitivity and professional capabilities, the education office also provides specialized training and support programs that enhance understanding of students from multicultural and immigrant backgrounds.

"All teachers are now required to complete at least 15 hours of multicultural training within a three-year period, with the aim of increasing inclusivity and integrating multicultural practices into classroom instruction," Kang said.

As the number of schools with over 30 percent of students from multicultural backgrounds continues to grow, the education office plans to roll out a network-based support system tailored to these schools starting this year.

The city is also strengthening targeted support for immigrant students to ensure more effective assistance.

In March, the education office opened a Korean Language Education Center at a former middle school, which was repurposed following its closure last year. The center provides customized Korean language instruction for late-arrival and foreign students, offering integrated programs that combine basic communication, academic language and cultural adaptation.

In addition to language education, the center collaborates with outside institutions to provide comprehensive support for students’ emotional well-being, counseling and daily life needs. The education office plans to further expand its offerings through partnerships with local family support centers and universities, aiming to strengthen the center’s role as a hub for multicultural student integration.

"The center is being developed as a hub for Korean language education that connects schools with the wider community," Kang said. "Our goal is to make it a central base for supporting late-arrival and foreign students as they adapt to the public education system."