Even within the elderly group, the actual use of digital devices varies greatly depending on
the individual. According to the NHRCK's human rights status survey, depending on several
factors, there are elderlies who find it not difficult to use digital devices and actively use
them, while others find it difficult to use digital devices. For example, the experience of
using digital devices before retirement, whether the ability to use digital devices is required
in various social activities (such as writing documents using a computer at church or holding
a meeting using Zoom), and the degree of assistance in using digital devices from those
around you seem to affect the ability to use them.
On the other hand, the digital environment and level of the elderlies in rural areas clearly
showed the characteristics of the digital divide compared to the elderly group in the city.
Although the percentage of people who own a smartphone is very high, most of them do not
have Wi-Fi, which is needed to access the Internet. Also, almost no interviewees were able
to access and use the Internet in general, including bus time information, e-commerce, and
banking. This can be seen as a result of many factors, including education, age, and lack of
social, economic, and cultural capital for the elderlies in rural areas.
In Jan. 2021, the ‘Digital Inclusion Act,’ which aims to promote policies to resolve and
prevent the digital divide,352) was proposed in the National Assembly and is pending. The 6th
Basic Plans for National Informatization (2018-2022) proposes strengthening education as a
policy to bridge the digital divide for the digitally underprivileged, and in practice, the
leading digital education for the elderly is educational program conducted by the local
welfare centers. However, the limitations are lack of equipment that can train a small number
of people and conduct training, such as a kiosk for experience,353) a kiosk education app was
created because it is realistically difficult to visit the kiosk experience center and receive
education and obtain experience,354) and even though they received training on how to use
digital devices, they do not have enough opportunities to practice what they learned, and in
many cases, it does not lead to an increase in their ability to use digital devices.355)
352) According to the reason for the bill proposal, the content on the digital divide is relatively passive in the current
‘Framework Act on Intelligent Informatization,’ which mainly regulates matters related to the promotion of the
development and spread of intelligent information technologies and intelligent information services, and therefore,
a separate legislation is required.
353) Chungcheong Today, Is the Digital Divide for Seniors, Right?, Sep. 5, 2022.
354) E-Korea News, What do you think about installing Kiosk at Senior Centers?, Jun. 17, 2022.
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