ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DIGITAL PEDAGOGY IN CONTINUOUS TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: LESSONS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA FOR UZBEKISTAN

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies has fundamentally transformed educational systems worldwide, creating new requirements for teachers' professional competencies. Continuous professional development (CPD) has become a strategic mechanism for equipping educators with digital pedagogical skills necessary for effective teaching in technology-rich learning environments. This paper examines the experience of the Republic of Korea in integrating AI and digital pedagogy into teacher professional development and explores its implications for educational reform in Uzbekistan. Based on comparative analysis, the study identifies key institutional practices implemented by Korea's National Education Training Institute (NETI) and regional teacher training centers. The findings demonstrate that AI-supported professional development significantly enhances teachers' digital competence, instructional innovation, and evidence-based educational decision-making. Practical recommendations are proposed for adapting Korea's successful experience to Uzbekistan's teacher professional development system.