The paradigm shift of digital transformation is being accelerated due to the unprecedented turmoil brought on by COVID-19. People now use mobile banking apps instead of going to the bank and place orders using kiosks instead of cafe counters and restaurant waiters. Telecommuting and online classes are the new norm. Meanwhile, there are side effects of these radical changes—much of the elderly and the marginalized are now facing “digital alienation” and affected by the “digital gap.”

According to a survey conducted by the National Information Society Agency, the digital literacy of the elderly amounts to nearly half of regular citizens at 51.6%, while that of those in their 70s is 14.6%. Furthermore, while 91.4% of regular citizens have mobile phones, the percentage is reduced to 73.7% for senior citizens and 38.3% for those in their 70s.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) is partnering up with LG Electronics, KT M Mobile and more to distribute customized smart phones for the elderly. It is a special measure to increase smart mobile ownership for the elderly and close the ever-so-widening digital gap following the COVID-19 pandemic.

※ Learning how to use a smart phone with the educational robot LIKU