[Baedal-ui Cheongchun]③ 'This Person' Who Created Jobs for 1,000 Seniors

Interview with Jinhyuk Jeon, Head of Quick Commerce at GS Retail
Responsible for Development and Operation of Our Neighborhood Delivery (U-Dil)
App Environment Considerate of Elderly Walking Delivery Characteristics

"Jobs for the elderly are a social issue. I thought of planning this project because it can provide a steady income and can be done comfortably on foot."

Jeon Jin-hyeok, Head of Quick Commerce at GS Retail (O4O Division), recently introduced the Senior Job Companion project, which is being carried out in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, in an interview with Asia Economy.

The Senior Job Companion project provides walking delivery jobs to seniors through GS Retail's pedestrian delivery intermediary platform, 'Our Neighborhood Delivery (U-Dil)'. Seniors participating in the project receive training on the walking delivery process and how to use the U-Dil app, allowing them to work as delivery personnel and earn income. The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to provide additional special points based on activity performance in connection with the Seoul-type healthcare project 'Wrist Doctor 9988'. GS Retail also offers additional support such as senior-customized call assignments.

Jeon Jin-hyeok, Head of Quick Commerce at GS Retail, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the GS Retail headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by GS Retail]

The Quick Commerce Division, led by Jeon, is responsible for the development and operation of U-Dil. U-Dil connects delivery personnel and stores to enable delivery of nearby orders by foot or bicycle. Anyone aged 18 or older can work as a delivery person by installing the U-Dil app and completing a brief safety training. Currently, GS Retail stores such as convenience store GS25 and corporate supermarkets (SSM) GS The Fresh, as well as delivery orders from Olive Young and Burger King, are linked with U-Dil.

The U-Dil app also offers specialized features for senior walking delivery personnel. When receiving delivery orders on the U-Dil app, it displays the type of product and the approximate weight of the delivery item?features unique to U-Dil among delivery intermediary services. For example, if delivering iced coffee, the app indicates that the item is a cold product along with its approximate weight.

For seniors who are relatively unfamiliar with smartphones, a tutorial (practice) function is provided. The app displays a simulated order screen where users can experience the process from order acceptance to picking up the delivery item and completing the delivery. To prevent mix-ups during item pickup, some stores require entering the order number engraved on the item in the U-Dil app before pickup is allowed.

Allowing delivery personnel to view and select orders themselves is also a consideration for seniors. Unlike some delivery intermediary services that enforce forced dispatch, seniors can choose orders by checking the weight of the delivery items and the distance to the delivery location. The U-Dil app’s user interface (UI) is designed simply for ease of use. An update scheduled for August will enlarge text and buttons on the app screen to accommodate seniors with reduced vision.

Measures reflecting the characteristics of senior walking delivery are also in place. For fast food and other items requiring quick delivery, the walking delivery distance is shortened to enable faster delivery. Heavy deliveries above a certain weight, which may be difficult for seniors to handle, are assigned to delivery personnel using transportation such as motorcycles.

Mr. Oh In-sik, who started working as a walking delivery worker in the Seoul Senior Companion Job program, is checking a call received through a delivery worker app near Sindorim Station. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

If seniors encounter questions or problems during the delivery process, they can call the U-Dil delivery personnel call center. Jeon explained, "The customer center operates until 11 p.m. to respond to seniors' inquiries," adding, "We receive a variety of questions ranging from basic inquiries about the delivery process and contactless delivery methods to how to use the app."

GS Retail is promoting the senior walking delivery project with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to address the emerging social issue of job opportunities for the elderly. GS Retail can recruit walking delivery personnel to work through the U-Dil service. According to GS Retail, currently, more than 1,000 seniors aged 60 and above are active as U-Dil delivery personnel. This figure includes seniors who started delivery through this project.

Jeon emphasized that it is important to approach walking delivery as a form of exercise to maintain health in daily life rather than overexerting oneself. He advised, "Above all, safety is the most important. Delivering excessively heavy items on foot or walking long distances that harm health should be avoided," and added, "It would be good to do it for 30 minutes to an hour a day as a way to manage health."

Jeon Jin-hyeok, Head of Quick Commerce at GS Retail, is posing at the GS Retail headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by GS Retail