Yoo Eun-hye: "Expanding Social Participation through Senior-Focused and Digital Education"

9th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting Discusses 'Measures to Revitalize Elderly Social Participation Activities'

On the 26th, the Ministry of Education held the 9th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting at the Government Sejong Complex together with related ministries to discuss measures to promote social participation activities for the elderly.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The government plans to expand digital competency education and establish lifelong education programs specialized for the elderly, linked with elderly-friendly certifications, to increase social participation among senior citizens.

On the 26th, the Ministry of Education held the 9th Social Relations Ministers' Meeting at the Government Sejong Complex with related ministries to discuss "Measures to Activate Social Participation Activities for the Elderly."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "We will operate lifelong education courses specialized for the elderly to support self-development and adaptation to social changes, and strengthen practical digital basic competency education. We will increase volunteer participation opportunities where individuals can utilize their unique characteristics and experiences, and expand social contribution-type job projects by discovering new volunteer areas."

The government will provide digital basic competency education to ensure that the elderly do not face difficulties using digital devices such as smartphones and tablets, or services like finance and ticketing. In collaboration with EBS, digital literacy programs and textbooks will be developed to teach smartphone information search and app usage methods. Media literacy education, including fact-checking, will also be strengthened through 10 nationwide Viewer Media Centers.

Considering the educational demands of the baby boomer generation and other new middle-aged groups, elderly-specialized education programs will be newly established using the university lifelong education system support project. Non-degree education courses linked with certifications highly compatible with the elderly, such as elderly psychological counselors and forest interpreters, will be opened and operated. The Korea National Open University will also open and operate elderly-specialized education programs.

To institutionalize lifelong education for the elderly, the Lifelong Education Act will be amended to provide legal grounds for the establishment of elderly lifelong education facilities and program operation, and related statistics will be managed.

Volunteer programs for the elderly that allow individuals to utilize their unique characteristics and experiences will be developed, and new tasks will be discovered through inter-ministerial information sharing. Social contribution-type job projects such as support activities for modern record culture investigators, child safety guardians, and social service jobs will be expanded. Excellent cases of volunteer recognition and reward systems will be disseminated to foster a culture of volunteer participation.

Through cultural centers or senior welfare centers, programs supporting cultural and physical activities for the elderly will be provided. In areas without theaters, cultural experience opportunities will be increased through projects such as "Small Cinema" or "Exciting Art Travel." Customized tourism programs for the elderly will also be developed.

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