Seoul City Operates 'Kiosk Assistants' for Senior Citizens

150 Members Inauguration Ceremony of the 2nd Digital Guides Held

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] On the 6th, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon will hold an inauguration ceremony to appoint 150 members of the ‘2nd Digital Guides,’ the executors of ‘Walking Together with the Digitally Disadvantaged.’ The Digital Guides project is the first initiative to be implemented on the ground as part of the ‘Special City for Accompanying the Vulnerable’ promised by Mayor Oh since his inauguration in July last year. The Digital Guides will circulate major multi-use facilities frequently visited by the elderly, such as train stations, subway stations, and large supermarkets, providing guidance on how to use unmanned terminals (kiosks) and smartphones.

This year, as kiosks have expanded into all areas of daily life, 100 new locations with kiosks installed in everyday settings have been added to focus on helping elderly people facing difficulties. Additionally, 50 more Digital Guides have been recruited, bringing the total to 150.

The Digital Guides represent a flagship project for bridging the digital divide under the ‘Walking Together with the Vulnerable’ initiative, while also serving as an excellent example of ‘Seoul Citizens’ Safe Jobs’ that create employment opportunities.

Mayor Oh, attending the inauguration ceremony, will award mayoral commendations to two outstanding Digital Guides from the 1st cohort and personally place ‘Digital Guide ID cards’ around the necks of the 2nd cohort members. He will deliver an encouraging message asking them to take pride in representing Seoul and to work diligently for the digitally disadvantaged citizens of Seoul.

The Seoul Association of the Korean Senior Citizens and Lotte GRS also plan to collaborate on campaigns such as ‘It’s Okay to Take Your Time’ and kiosk education, anticipating active private sector participation in ‘Walking Together with the Digitally Disadvantaged.’

The Digital Guides will be deployed on-site starting the day after the inauguration ceremony. Operating in pairs from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., they will circulate designated routes including Seoul Station, Cheongnyangni Station, traditional markets, and hospitals. Any Seoul citizen in need of consultation can freely approach Digital Guides wearing orange uniforms, and route information for the Digital Guides can be checked via the call center and the Smart Seoul portal.

Jinman Kim, Seoul’s Digital Policy Officer, stated, “The Digital Guides embody the city administration’s philosophy of ‘Walking Together with the Vulnerable’ by acting as problem solvers for digital inconveniences close to citizens’ daily lives. Anyone can receive help from them. Seoul plans to continuously promote campaigns to support the digitally disadvantaged and provide digital competency enhancement education until all citizens become digitally strong.”