Samsung 'Senior Digital Academy' 1st Anniversary... Half of Trainees Employed

Customized Life Education for Over 300 Seniors
Supporting Economic Independence Through Employment-Linked Training

Launched in November last year to address the digital divide among the senior generation, the 'Samsung Senior Digital Academy' is being recognized for contributing to the tangible improvement of seniors' lives in our society within just one year. It goes beyond simply teaching technology, helping seniors regain self-esteem and achieve economic independence in the digital age. The Samsung Senior Digital Academy involves nine Samsung affiliates, including the main organizer S-1, Samsung Biologics, Samsung Bioepis, Cheil Worldwide, Hotel Shilla, Samsung Welstory, Samsung Medical Center, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, and Samsung Global Research, participating together.

Seniors who have finished experiencing digital devices are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by S-One

On the 21st, S-1 announced that through the Senior Digital Academy, it has been providing life-tailored education since March this year to 300 vulnerable elderly people aged 65 and over. To offer one-on-one customized education, S-1 trained 150 life support workers from local senior institutions as digital education specialists. These specialists visited elderly households directly to teach basic digital device usage such as smartphone operation, mobile shopping, and mobile financial transactions, as well as methods to prevent digital crimes like voice phishing and smishing.

Additionally, to help seniors use digital devices like kiosks without confusion in daily life, experience centers were opened in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi regions starting last April. So far, about 3,400 seniors have visited these centers to experience various digital devices. Kim Gwang-ja (82), a graduate of the program, said, "I handle apartment management fee payments and bank transactions such as remittances using my smartphone," adding, "I regret not learning sooner."

Seniors are experiencing kiosks at the Digital Academy Experience Center. Provided by S1.

S-1 is also running employment-linked programs to assist seniors facing economic difficulties. Over the past year, 145 people have participated in this program. Nearly half of the trainees, 49.7%, succeeded in finding employment, with 58 of them hired as IT logistics managers requiring digital skills. Kim Sung-mi (67), who started working as a logistics manager at Seoul Metro's T-Platform, said, "Thanks to the digital education, I spend fulfilling days working as a logistics manager," and added, "I hope more seniors can contribute to society through the Senior Digital Academy."

An S-1 official stated, "We will strive to establish a sustainable support system in cooperation with government ministries and NGOs so that seniors can enjoy a more convenient and safe daily life in the digital world and provide employment opportunities to those who want to work." Professor Choi Jae-sung of Yonsei University, a member of the Senior Digital Academy steering committee, said, "I hope the Senior Digital Academy will serve as a cornerstone in strengthening digital education systems for the elderly."