Science & Tech · AI · 7 hrs ago
Chuncheon turns to a U.S. college’s teaching model as AI use grows
Chuncheon, a city in South Korea, is adopting a teaching model from St. John’s College in the United States.
The model, called Great Books, has students discuss classic works while teachers guide rather than lecture.
Students use their reading and reasoning instead of relying on internet searches to find answers.
Supporters say independent thinking matters because AI chatbots are increasingly used for studying, and students need to judge the answers they produce.
South Korea also faces concerns about falling reading skills and intense pressure to prepare for college entrance exams.
Chuncheon’s mayor says he wants a different educational approach for the city.
The city formed an academic partnership with St. John’s College last year to promote the Great Books model.
Chuncheon, South Korea, is promoting a teaching model used by St. John’s College as the use of artificial intelligence in education grows.
The Great Books model centers on student discussion of books, with teachers guiding rather than lecturing.
At a summer camp in Chuncheon, students discussed Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and whether artificial intelligence is human.
The initiative comes amid concerns about declining reading skills, exam pressure and students’ reliance on AI tools.
Chuncheon’s government established an academic partnership with St. John’s College last year.
- Who
- Chuncheon’s government and St. John’s College are promoting the Great Books model.
- What
- Chuncheon is adopting a teaching approach based on reading and discussion.
- When
- The city established its academic partnership with St. John’s College last year; the article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- Chuncheon, South Korea, including classes at Toegye public elementary school.
- Why
- The effort aims to offer an alternative to an education system seen as leaving students little time to read and think, as AI use grows.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lee Yonghwa co-founded South Korea’s first Great Books program at Incheon National University.
Chuncheon’s government established an academic partnership with St. John’s College.
Students at a Chuncheon school discussed Frankenstein and questions about artificial intelligence.
- Partnership
- Chuncheon government and St. John’s College
- First South Korean program
- Incheon National University, 2019
- AI chatbot use
- 51% of South Korean students use AI chatbots to study at least once a week, according to OECD figures
- Location
- Chuncheon, about 50 miles east of Seoul
- School
- Toegye public elementary school
What people are saying
We all feel that this system leaves students with no time to read and think, because they're too busy memorizing facts to pass tests
If only the teacher talks we can have one idea, but if we all debate together, like, we can get many ideas together
When I became mayor, I wanted to introduce a different kind of education and a distinct educational philosophy to the city of Chuncheon.