“우리는 배우며 익어가는 존재…AI 공부하자, 아자!”

"AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a new experience for everyone, even seniors," declared 'Senior Teacher' Kim Cha-hyun. As Kim's words faded, 15 attentive students nervously answered. On January 2nd at the Gwangju Senior Welfare Center in Gwanggyo, Gyeonggi Province, the "2026 Senior Digital Financial Education" was underway. The Korea Impact Foundation, a subsidiary of Kakao Corporation, has been running the Senior Teacher Program since 2024, sending instructors to seniors across the country to teach digital tool usage.

The recent surge in artificial intelligence has even reached seniors. After learning the basics of AI, some students admitted they had only "touched" it before. Kim explained that AI is not just a simple answer but a tool that can ask follow-up questions, learning more with each interaction. The first lesson of the day focused on basic AI knowledge, but the students' knowledge and expectations were high.

Even someone who had lived quietly at home for 76 years, O-seon-gyun, expressed excitement about living in a digital world. Another participant, Park Hyung-rul, a former journalist, used AI to craft essays during a recent article. Despite already having experience with AI, he sought to strengthen his foundation and undergo refresher courses.

The students' motivation was clear: they wanted to learn AI better and use it well. Their resolutions, written on the board, included phrases like "age gracefully while mastering AI" and "let's work hard." One student's statement stood out: "We are not aging, but growing with knowledge. Wow!" For these 'Digital Vulnerable Layer' seniors, the fear of unfamiliar buttons and the need to relearn was not a weakness, but a purposeful step towards changing their daily lives.