In a quiet living room in South Korea, a new kind of playtime is taking shape. Kim Jungu, a father and Chief Product Officer at an IT firm, uses generative artificial intelligence (genAI) to turn his five-year-old son’s drawings into short videos and stories.
Each week, Kim and his son, Dohun, visit the library. They pick a book, read it together, and talk about topics that interest them. Kim then plans a 30-minute AI session based on what they’ve learned. Because young children can’t use AI tools by themselves, Kim prepares customized prompts in advance.
During their sessions, Dohun takes part in creative activities like designing imaginary planets or creating stories about space. The AI helps by asking follow-up questions and sharing facts related to science or math.
“He really enjoys it,” Kim told Euronews Next. “Every time, the AI gives interesting questions and useful knowledge. I think he feels like he learns something new each week.”
Dohun loves space and drawing. Kim believes AI is a helpful tool that supports creativity and curiosity. “I can see that his interests are growing. Last week we learned about the solar system. Now he’s asking about what’s beyond it. The AI gives him new ideas,” Kim said.
Still, Kim is cautious. He wants to make sure his son doesn’t become too dependent on AI. “It’s important to guide the process carefully. I also think a lot about how we manage personal learning data,” he added.
Experts Say the Play, Not the Technology, Is What Matters
Experts in AI education stress that the most important part of using AI with children is the quality of the play, not the tool itself.
“It’s like playing with Legos,” said Kwon Jungmin, a professor of AI education at Seoul National University of Education. “What matters is the relationship between parent and child.”
She added that the amount of time children spend with AI should be age-appropriate. “If it’s just once in a while, that’s fine. But if it’s more than two hours every day, that could be too much, depending on the child’s age and interest.”
Kwon warned that young children should not use AI without adult supervision. “If a child plays alone with something like ChatGPT, they might think it’s a real person,” she said.
That’s why she believes parental involvement is key. “Children learn by watching their parents. How parents interact with AI affects how children understand it.”
She also stressed the need for a strong foundation in critical thinking. Teaching children subjects like literature, humanities, and philosophy is just as important as teaching them about AI.
“What matters is how the child sees ChatGPT,” Kwon explained. “If they don’t learn how to think about technology, they may just see it as something smarter than them and start to follow it blindly.”
But with proper guidance, she believes children can develop a healthy view of technology. “When kids learn to ask big questions—like ‘What does it mean to be human?’—they will understand AI differently. That’s the kind of thinking we need in the AI age.”
AI in Education: A Growing Trend in South Korea
Interest in AI education is growing rapidly in South Korea. Families like the Kims use AI tools in creative ways at home. At the same time, schools and private academies are adding coding and AI subjects to their lessons.
Some schools are even using AI to track student progress and learning outcomes.
“The private education market in Korea is huge,” said Kwon. “It exists mainly to prepare students for the college entrance exam. That exam often determines your social status.”
According to a 2025 report from the South Korean government, 47.6% of children under the age of six are already enrolled in private education. In 2024, private education spending hit a record high for the fourth year in a row.
“Parents are investing a lot in education so their children can succeed,” Kwon said.
A Father’s Focus on Creativity, Not Competition
While AI education becomes more competitive in South Korea, Kim takes a different approach. He uses AI not to get ahead but to help his son imagine and explore.
At home, he noticed how quickly the private education sector was turning AI into something stressful. Many companies warn that children without AI skills will fall behind.
Kim doesn’t agree with that fear-based message.
“It’s not about starting early because you’re afraid,” he wrote in a Threads post, where he shares his AI playtime ideas with other parents. “It’s about nurturing creativity—exploring, combining, imagining. That’s more important than the technology itself.”
