National Institute of Korean Language to develop 'K-Robot' to enhance public Korean writing skills

▲ This file photo shows the National Institute of Korean Language building. (Yonhap)

▲ This photo, provided by the NIKL, shows the tentative plan of developing writing evaluation system. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

SEOUL, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- The National Institute of Korean Language (NIKL) has kicked off developing a tentatively named “K-Robot” that can automatically score and revise writings using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

K-Robot will function as a tool that particularly helps improve Korean writing skills. This is based on a “National Language Proficiency Survey” that was analyzed by the NIKL in 2018, where more than 69.6% of the surveyees scored 1 to 2 in terms of Korean writing proficiency, which is definitely below the average level on a scale divided into four levels.

Overseas programs have already been developed to automatically evaluate and correct the writings using computers. Accordingly, the NIKL is planning to start devising the soon-to-be-called “K-Robot” in earnest this year.

The long process will begin with developing a writing evaluation index with public confidence by which the Institute can gather data for automatic evaluations. It will then train professional scoring personnel and operate a large-scale writing evaluation system, based on which the K-Robot will be operating.

An official from the NIKL said, “If the writing evaluation system is fully operated, systematic education and reliable evaluation will also be available in various educational institutions, and it can also be deployed for selecting and educating people in public institutions and companies in the future.

The NIKL is also planning to refine its evaluation standards and details it made last year. Moreover, the Institute will collaborate with nine national and public universities in Korea, including Gyeongsang National University, Pusan National University, Seoul National University, and Incheon National University, in order to collect various types of data, including the writings of university students on specific issues.

The large-scale writing evaluation system will be ready to be implemented after 2026.

Jang So-won, the head of the NIKL, said, “The development of ‘K-Robot’ will be an impetus to improving the public Korean language skills, including people’s logical thinking and communication skills,” adding, “We plan to accumulate various data and expand the scope of our collaboration.”

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Ha eun Lee)

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