South Korea aims to save seniors lost in digital age

South Korea is striving to assist its aging population, who are struggling to keep up with the rapidly advancing digital landscape. The country, known for its cutting-edge technology and smartphone industry, now boasts one of the most significant digital divides for seniors among developed nations.

At a digital survival training session in Suwon, 79-year-old Hwang Sun-hee successfully placed an online order, bringing a smile to her face. However, Hwang lamented that managing daily tasks without digital assistance has become increasingly challenging. "You can't do anything without smartphone apps or a kiosk machine... It's too much for old folks," she remarked during the government-organized training.

The so-called "grey digital divide" has become a pressing issue in South Korea, which has a population of approximately 52 million people. Last year, several baseball clubs even started reserving tickets for on-site sales after noticing older fans approaching younger people at stadiums to buy tickets from cash-only machines. Moreover, nearly 90% of taxi drivers rely on ride-hailing apps, while over 80% of South Koreans over 60 still hail cabs manually.

Experts warn that the digital divide can leave older individuals vulnerable to online scams and limit their access to essential services like healthcare. A recent state survey found that 60% of South Koreans over 60 struggle with using public and commercial services due to a lack of digital skills, compared to just 6% of those under 40.

Kim Jeung-kun, a professor of senior business at Kangnam University in Seoul, attributes the wide intergenerational digital divide in South Korea to the country's rapid industrialization. "South Korea's intensely compressed industrialization happened in just a few decades, while it took centuries in many Western countries," Kim explained.

South Korea, once a nation with a GDP per capita below US$100, has now become the world's 15th largest economy. A significant portion of the elderly population in South Korea, classified by the UN as a "super-aged society," is grappling with the digital divide. In 2020, South Korea initiated nationwide tech training for the elderly, following the shift to online businesses and services during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Vans equipped with technology devices and mock kiosks tour community centers and regional festivals frequented by seniors. In 2025, over 65,000 sessions were conducted for approximately 650,000 individuals aged 60 and above. Hwang Sun-hee joined a session in August, practicing skills like paying hospital bills at mock kiosks, interacting with a prancing robot dog, and asking her phone for the weather forecast.

While Hwang has attended such training multiple times and her confidence has grown, she expresses envy towards younger generations who find digital tasks effortless. "I wish I had been born young in today's world," Hwang admitted.