South Korea sees rising AI integration in education and social trends

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into both public education and social culture in South Korea. The Sacheon Municipal Library is expanding its specialized AI and media programs, offering age-specific courses ranging from generative AI book trailer production for adults to 3D pen creation and coding for children. Starting in October, the library will introduce 'Vibe Coding' and smartphone-based AI training for middle-aged citizens to ensure digital literacy across all generations.

Simultaneously, a new social media trend is emerging among South Koreans in their 20s and 30s, where users utilize generative AI for self-exploration. Through challenges on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, individuals ask AI to define their personality through metaphors, such as asking, “What kind of flower am I?” or “What color am I?”.

Users also engage in the “AI Seizure” trend, where AI analyzes accumulated chat histories to generate images of items that would supposedly be found during a search of their home, reflecting their unique tastes and daily lives. While these trends serve as a new way for youth to express identity and connect with others, experts note that the trend of using legal terms like “seizure” as memes may inadvertently trivialize judicial processes.