This special issue of English Teaching commemorates the momentous 60th anniversary of the Korea Association of Teachers of English (KATE), reflecting on the evolution of English education and envisioning its future amid rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies. English education in Korea has undergone significant theoretical, pedagogical, and technological transformations, and AI now presents new opportunities and complex challenges for instruction, assessment, equity, and ethics. The articles explore AI integration across all four language skills: reading material generation, career-integrated listening activities, AI feedback in writing, and AIbased speaking systems versus peer activities. A meta-analysis affirms AI’s positive effects on writing instruction. Other contributions examine English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and critically discuss the important ethical challenges of AI adoption, including data privacy, bias, and academic integrity. These studies collectively argue that AI is a powerful tool whose value depends on thoughtful, ethical integration that supports humanistic educational values.

1. INTRODUCTION
2. IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF AI IN ENGLISHEDUCATION
    2.1. Enhancing Receptive Skills Through AI-generated Materials
    2.2. AI Feedback and Learner Engagement in Productive Skills
    2.3. Synthesizing Broader Trends and Examining Ethical Considerations
3. CONCLUSION
REFERENCES

• Jeong-Won Lee(Professor, Department of English Education, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehakro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, South Korea)