"It's Okay to Take Your Time"... Songpa-gu Launches 'Slow Kiosk Campaign'

Over Half of Elderly Feel Pressured When Using Kiosks, Breaking a Sweat
Songpa-gu Launches 'Slow Kiosk Campaign' to Support Elderly Users
'Take Your Time' Posters Attached to Kiosks... Five Local Stores Participate
On-site Training for Seniors Includes Barcode Scanning and Non-barcode Item Payment Methods

# In front of the unmanned checkout at Lotte Mart Songpa Branch on the 13th, Mr. Kim (75), who nervously scanned vegetables and fruits at the kiosk, sighed with relief saying, "Now I don't have to feel intimidated even if someone is waiting behind me." He added confidently, "Today’s practice included scanning items without barcodes, so I probably won’t need any help from staff in the future."

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has launched the ‘Slow Kiosk Campaign’ to support elderly people struggling with kiosks and continues on-site kiosk practice sessions.

The district explained that to reduce the digital divide among seniors, it is necessary to create a social atmosphere that allows them to use devices comfortably, beyond simple kiosk training, which led to the planning of this campaign.

According to the ‘Seoul Citizens Digital Competency Survey’ released by the Seoul Digital Foundation on June 13, 59.6% of the elderly experienced difficulties using kiosks, and 53.6% cited ‘feeling pressured by people waiting behind them’ as the reason.

In response, the district will promote the ‘It’s Okay to Take Your Time’ Slow Kiosk Campaign for one year, encouraging seniors to use devices at their own pace without stress.

The campaign is conducted mainly in large marts and stores near welfare centers, reflecting the demand of elderly users. Some kiosks are designated as ‘Slow Kiosks’ with campaign promotional materials attached to encourage other users to be considerate of seniors who may be less skilled at operating the devices.

The district also conducts regular on-site practice sessions for seniors at participating stores through senior welfare centers.

Various training sessions are provided to help seniors handle different situations when using kiosks, including barcode scanner use and manual input methods for vegetables or fruits without barcodes. The Senior IT Volunteer Group within the welfare centers will assist in supporting kiosk use.

Currently, five stores participate in the ‘Slow Kiosk Campaign’: Lotte Mart Songpa Branch, Mom’s Touch Munjeong Station Branch, Lotteria Songpa Samjeon Branch, Kim Ga Ne Songpa Women’s Culture Center Branch, and Baekho Latte.

Stores interested in participating can contact the Songpa-gu Senior Welfare Centers (Songpa Senior Comprehensive Welfare Center, Songpa Silbeot Tteulak, Songpa Welfare Center) or the Senior Welfare Division of Songpa District Office by phone.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, stated, “As essential daily services are provided digitally, the relative sense of exclusion felt by seniors is significant. Going forward, Songpa-gu will actively develop projects to ensure seniors enjoy digital benefits without exclusion in daily life and live a convenient and happy old age.”