[Baedal-ui Cheongchun]①Earning Pocket Money While Walking... "I Am a Prospective Delivery Worker"

'Elderly Companion Job' Project Training Site
Delivery Through 'Our Neighborhood Delivery (Udil)'
Passion for Learning Smartphone Usage

"Teacher, how do I sign up here?" "Teacher, please help me. I don't understand what this means..."

Last month, I visited the Seoul Senior Employment Support Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Upon entering the classroom, about twenty seniors were all looking at their smartphones simultaneously. On the screen at the front of the training room, detailed instructions on how to connect to Wi-Fi, install applications (apps), and the membership registration process were displayed.

Elderly participants in the Seoul Senior Companion Job Program, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and GS Retail, are receiving on-foot delivery job training and app usage instructions at the Seoul Senior Employment Support Center. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

On this day, a job training session for walking delivery was held for seniors participating in the 'Senior Companion Job' project at the center. This project aims to provide walking delivery jobs to seniors aged 65 and older so they can earn income. Seniors participating in the project can earn pocket money by delivering on foot while also maintaining their health through walking exercise. GS Retail and the Seoul Metropolitan Government have signed a job companionship business agreement and are promoting the project.

Through 'Our Neighborhood Delivery (Urdil),' a walking delivery mediation platform developed by GS Retail, delivery workers accept order calls and then walk to deliver products to customers. Anyone aged 18 or older can apply regardless of gender or age, and after receiving basic safety training, they can start working immediately. The service aims to be a community-based eco-friendly walking delivery service open to everyone.

Walking Delivery App 'Yeolgong' for Seniors... "Exercise and Pocket Money"

Elderly participants in the Seoul Senior Companion Job Project, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and GS Retail, are receiving on-foot delivery job training and app usage instructions at the Seoul Senior Employment Support Center. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

During the job training held that day, instructions were given on the delivery process from accepting walking delivery calls, picking up delivery items, to completing the delivery, as well as how to use the walking delivery app 'Our Neighborhood Delivery' and how to respond if problems arise during delivery. Since the project officially started in April, regular training sessions have been held for seniors wishing to participate. The average age of seniors attending the May training session was 68.3 years.

The seniors participating in the training showed great enthusiasm. The training that day was on how to use the delivery worker app. The seniors filled the classroom seats early, about 20 minutes before the training started. Following the instructor's guidance, while installing the app, some seniors actively raised their hands to ask questions about installation and membership registration. Even the reporter present for coverage ended up guiding seniors on basic smartphone usage such as app installation and Wi-Fi connection.

The training was conducted as a thoroughly 'eye-level lecture' tailored for seniors. Park Seong-rae, a professional instructor specializing in teaching smartphone usage to seniors, guided the app usage step-by-step. Park, who led the training, has experience as the head of the Korean branch of the global IT company Gartner Group. After retiring from the industry, he mainly teaches middle-aged and older adults how to use smartphones and the internet at the Dongjak 50 Plus Center.

Elderly participants in the Seoul Senior Companion Job Project, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and GS Retail, are receiving on-foot delivery job training and app usage instructions at the Seoul Senior Employment Support Center. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

He explained terms used in delivery apps and new terminology appearing in the delivery process in an easy-to-understand way for seniors, and also clearly explained key precautions during delivery. The instructors, including Park, checked individually to ensure all trainees were keeping up with the pace before moving on to the next step.

Park said, "(Seniors) generally have a fear of digital devices, and overcoming that psychological fear is the most important," adding, "We educate them to overcome their resistance to digital devices and use them comfortably." He emphasized, "Our goal is to prevent seniors from feeling inferior or wanting to quit learning just because they are not familiar with smartphone usage."

Even during the break after the first session, most seniors did not put their smartphones down. They wanted to practice what they had learned during the lecture. Seniors sitting next to each other were seen helping one another review. At the training site, Mr. Hwang Il-gyun (74), whom I met that day, said, "Rather than staying still at home, I applied for the walking delivery project because I thought I could exercise and earn pocket money while moving. I also like that I can work only when I want to."

Can Start Walking Delivery Immediately After Training... Special Points from Wrist Doctor 9988

Elderly participants in the Seoul Senior Companion Job Project, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and GS Retail, are receiving on-foot delivery job training and app usage instructions at the Seoul Senior Employment Support Center. Photo by Yongjun Cho jun21@

Seniors who completed the training that day can start delivery work immediately through Our Neighborhood Delivery. There are no restrictions on time or place. By turning on the Our Neighborhood Delivery app and making themselves available to accept delivery orders, they can start working. They receive walking delivery orders from nearby stores, and since it is walking delivery, the travel distance is short and orders mainly consist of lightweight products. Currently, walking delivery orders can be received from brand stores such as GS25, GS The Fresh, Olive Young, and Burger King. Delivery fees vary depending on the product and distance but average around 3,000 KRW.

Seniors who completed the training that day were given 1,000 special points from 'Wrist Doctor 9988,' a healthcare project operated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, along with insulated delivery bags for use during delivery.