Oh Se-hoon Launches 'Digital Capability Enhancement Council' Cooperation Network with 13 Institutions and Companies
Developing and Applying Kiosks Reflecting Digital Vulnerable Opinions with Shinhan Bank and CJ CGV by Year-End
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government is partnering with companies such as banks and movie theaters, as well as related organizations for seniors and people with disabilities, to launch the ‘Walking Together with the Digitally Disadvantaged’ initiative.
According to Seoul on the 11th, the city is developing unmanned terminals (kiosks) that reflect the opinions of the digitally disadvantaged in collaboration with companies like Shinhan Bank and CJ CGV, and plans to introduce them within the year. The kiosks will feature large fonts and simple language, removing unnecessary elements to simplify the user interface (UI) as much as possible. Additionally, to prevent hesitation in using kiosks due to concern about others waiting behind, the city will launch a campaign called ‘It’s Okay to Take Your Time,’ encouraging all citizens to wait patiently in front of kiosks. Various promotional media such as convenience stores and media billboards will be utilized.
Furthermore, Seoul will select 100 ‘Digital Guides’ who will visit daily life sites to assist digitally disadvantaged individuals unfamiliar with digital devices, starting operations at the end of this month. These guides will tour major multi-use facilities in areas frequently visited by seniors, such as Dongmyo Station, Jegi-dong Station, and Yeonsinnae Station, providing guidance on how to use kiosks and basic smartphone functions.
On this day, Seoul held the ‘Walking Together with the Digitally Disadvantaged’ event at Seoul City Hall, attended by Mayor Oh Se-hoon and others, and launched the ‘Digital Capability Enhancement Council,’ a public-private cooperation network aimed at improving the digital usage environment. The council will gather the difficulties experienced by digitally disadvantaged groups such as seniors and people with disabilities in the field, as well as their suggestions for improvement, to establish effective policies and create a digitally friendly environment.
The council includes seven organizations: the Korea Franchise Industry Association, the Seoul Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, the Seoul Senior Welfare Center, the Korea Federation of Organizations of the Disabled, the Seoul Senior Welfare Center Association, the Seoul Senior Club Association, and the Seoul Home Care Senior Welfare Association; and six companies: Shinhan Bank, CJ CGV, Lotte Seven Eleven, KBS Media, SK Telecom, and A-LUX.
Starting with its launch, the ‘Digital Capability Enhancement Council’ will jointly promote the development of digitally friendly kiosks, awareness campaigns to consider the digitally disadvantaged, and experiential education on digital devices. In collaboration with Shinhan Bank, CJ CGV, and advisory meetings with senior and disability organizations, kiosks reflecting the opinions of the digitally disadvantaged will be developed.
A public campaign called ‘It’s Okay to Take Your Time’ will be held until the end of the year to spread empathy for everyone struggling with kiosk use. By utilizing various promotional media from participating organizations such as Lotte Seven Eleven’s convenience store digital media, KBS Media billboards, and subway station media boards, the campaign aims to expand beyond Seoul to a nationwide scale.
Additionally, a digital capability enhancement education program called ‘One-Day Neighborhood Experience’ will be conducted, where participants learn about digital devices and then experience using them in real settings such as fast-food restaurants. Various experiential education sessions will be held monthly, and in July, the ‘EduBus Cinema’ program will take place, where participants learn how to use map apps and movie theater apps, then directly book tickets at a cinema and watch a movie together.
Meanwhile, Mayor Oh appointed 100 ‘Digital Guides’ at the event. After two weeks of training following the appointment ceremony, they will be deployed to the field starting on the 25th. They will tour key locations identified through seniors’ lifestyle data until the end of the year, helping to immediately resolve difficulties faced by those unfamiliar with digital devices on site.
Mayor Oh said, “Over the past two and a half years, the rapid digital transition due to COVID-19 has created many new vulnerable groups known as the digitally disadvantaged. Through digital inclusion policies, Seoul will promote the ‘Walking Together with the Digitally Disadvantaged’ project so that all citizens can participate in the digital world without discrimination or exclusion and enjoy its benefits equally.”
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