The government is set to launch an outreach initiative aimed at instructing elderly individuals in rural areas on the use of kiosks, ensuring that those less adept with digital technology are not excluded from the increasing reliance on technology. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Education's 2024 agenda, which involves providing literacy education for adults. A budget of $5 million has been allocated for these plans, encompassing 185 digital literacy educational programs and 400 classes designed to teach fundamental literacy and arithmetic skills. This outreach effort is a response to the widespread adoption of digital platforms and devices, including kiosks, delivery services, and shopping apps, particularly in non-urban areas, where businesses often embrace these technologies as efficient cost-saving measures.
A mobile program is set to deploy a bus equipped with necessary devices and materials, reaching centers for the elderly and village halls in underserved regions to provide services in proximity to their residences. A 65-year-old resident in Gwangju expressed discomfort with the use of kiosks, citing unfamiliarity, and noted the dwindling availability of in-person services even outside Seoul. The resident hopes for increased government-led educational initiatives on digital devices for older adults, and simultaneously, urges companies to avoid overly expanding digital services. In a similar initiative, the Seoul Metropolitan Government recently inaugurated 145 "digital guides" who will be stationed at major subway stations, large supermarkets, or parks in the capital to aid senior citizens in navigating digital devices.
Since the initiation of the digital guide program by the city government in the latter part of 2022, approximately 400 guides have taken part, aiding around 270,000 citizens. The city reports an impressive 98.6 percent user satisfaction rate. Concurrently, the education ministry plans to conduct its inaugural survey this year to assess the digital literacy of individuals aged 18 and above. This door-to-door survey will be repeated every three years. Choi Eun-hee, overseeing human resources management policies at the ministry, stated, "We will provide support to individuals coping with rapid changes and continuing their learning in challenging conditions. Our commitment involves expanding digital literacy educational programs and proactively identifying those in need of such education".
