Seoul City-LG Electronics Distribute 'Senior-Friendly Smartphones' with Monthly 20,000 KRW Plan

Public-Private Collaboration Project to Bridge the Digital Divide Worsened by COVID-19
1.5GB Monthly Data + Unlimited Calls and Texts on Large-Screen Smartphones
Implementing 'Comprehensive Digital Capacity Building Measures' Including Digital Learning Centers and Kiosk Experience Zones

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] To narrow the digital divide that has deepened further since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), Seoul City will distribute 'senior-friendly smartphones' that allow the elderly to use 1.5GB of data and unlimited voice calls and texts for a monthly fee of less than 20,000 KRW.

On the 11th, Seoul City announced the 'Comprehensive Digital Capacity Building Plan to Create a Seoul Without Digital Exclusion in the COVID Era,' which includes these measures. The city believes that the gap in digital technology utilization capabilities is not only causing inconvenience in daily life but also deepening economic and social inequality and discrimination. Digital non-users are facing exclusion not only online but also in broader real-world society, making related policies urgent.

According to the '2019 Digital Information Gap Survey' released last year by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency, the level of digital informatization among people with disabilities, low-income groups, farmers and fishermen, and the elderly was only 69.9% of that of the general population. Within the elderly group, the digital capability gap between generations was significant: 93.8% for those in their 50s, 56.9% for those in their 60s, and 14.6% for those aged 70 and above.

Accordingly, Seoul City will first collaborate with LG Electronics, KT M Mobile (a budget phone carrier), and Hi Plaza (a retailer) to promote the distribution of senior-friendly smartphones with a monthly fee of 18,600 KRW. Feature phone users who are already paying more than 10,000 KRW per month will be able to use smartphones with large screens, 1.5GB of data, and unlimited voice and text services without significant additional costs.

Subscriptions to the senior-friendly plan can be made at 35 Hi Plaza-operated LG Best Shops across Seoul. LG Best Shops will also provide basic smartphone education to subscribers upon service activation to help seniors adapt easily to smartphones.

New 'Digital Learning Centers' will be established and operated at community centers and welfare centers, where not only seniors but all citizens can receive digital education. Each learning center will have two instructors and two supporters for digital education, and the curriculum will be divided into basic, daily life, and intermediate courses, teaching everything from basic smartphone and SNS usage to how to use transportation and financial apps.

Since social distancing level 2 is still in effect, the learning centers will open sequentially depending on the COVID-19 situation and the conditions of each facility.

Seoul City will also establish 46 'Kiosk Experience Zones' for digitally vulnerable groups by next month. These kiosks, located in train stations, cafes, fast food outlets, and civil service issuance machines, will include 10 practice scenarios so users can learn through hands-on experience. The education program is planned to be completed by November, with one to two kiosks distributed per autonomous district.

Starting in November, 220 educational robots called 'LIKU' will be distributed, primarily to elderly welfare facilities, enabling one-on-one real-time digital education on smartphone usage through robot interaction.

Additionally, Seoul City will add digital divide survey items to this year's 'Seoul Survey' to accurately assess the current situation and establish effective policies. The city plans to analyze the regional, generational, and intra-generational characteristics of digital capabilities among Seoul citizens in detail and continuously monitor, supplement, and develop policies to bridge the digital divide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.