AI and Digital Transformation in Education: Policy and Research Trends in Korea

This chapter presents policy initiatives and research trends in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into Korea’s basic education. AI adoption in the Korean school system has been advanced through curriculum reform, the introduction of AI digital textbooks, and large-scale teacher capacity-building programs, with the 2022 Revised National Curriculum establishing AI literacy as a core competency. A review of recent research studies (2022–2024) published in Korean journals reveals rapid growth in AI-related educational research, particularly following the emergence of generative AI, with a growing focus on enhancing teacher competencies and supporting personalized learning. The integration of AI presents significant opportunities, including the nationwide expansion of AI literacy through centralized policy, the scaling of personalized learning to promote equity, and the transformation of teacher roles through professional empowerment. However, critical challenges persist, including misalignment between AI use and instructional innovation, gaps in teacher readiness, concerns over data ethics and privacy, emerging inequities, and insufficient technical and administrative infrastructure. Overall, Korea’s experience highlights that meaningful digital transformation in schools depends not on technology adoption alone but on aligning AI integration with clearly defined educational challenges.