A ruling party lawmaker said Wednesday existing math textbooks for students are excessively complicated, casting concerns they may induce students to seek private tutoring to keep up with class work.

"Many South Koreans believe math is complicated. When we asked third graders a question that had been reviewed for second graders' textbook, less than 30 percent got it correct," said Rep. Bae Duk-kwang of Saenuri during the regular audit by the parliament's science committee.

Bae added that complicated math problems in text books compel students to seek cram schools.

Such a situation carries over into middle school and even during their free-semesters which were introduced in full-scale starting this year.

South Korea first introduced the pilot program in 2013 to provide middle school students with chances to experience a wide range of learning activities for their future careers.

Under the program, schools shift the focus away from test scores and teach students through such diverse engaging methods as discussion, experiments, outdoor activities and team projects.

Bae pointed out that complicated math questions cannot help students develop their capabilities. (Yonhap)