"Food Ordering and Ticketing Are Not Difficult"... Seoul City Provides 'Kiosk' Training for Seniors

Kiosk Usage Training for 500 Seniors in 12 Sessions from October to November
Instructors Visit Fast Food and Other Kiosk-Equipped Stores for Hands-On Guidance from Menu Selection to Payment

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korean Mothers' Association announced on the 11th that they will conduct on-site kiosk education for elderly people who are "digitally disadvantaged." The program involves elderly participants and instructors visiting stores such as fast food outlets together to gradually experience the entire process from menu selection to payment using the kiosks installed there.

According to a survey released by the Seoul Digital Foundation, more than half (54.2%) of Seoul citizens aged 55 and older responded that they have "never used a kiosk." Over 40% expressed vague resistance due to the expectation that it would be inconvenient. Additionally, negative perceptions of kiosks were found to increase with age.

This education primarily targets elderly people aged 60 and above who have vague resistance and fear that using kiosks would be uncomfortable and difficult. To allow detailed explanations and hands-on kiosk experience, the number of trainees is limited to 10 to 30 people. Participating elderly are users of home care centers affiliated with the Seoul Home Care Elderly Association, and the education is conducted at stores near these centers, enabling elderly with limited outdoor activities to receive training in familiar spaces.

Instructors and elderly participants will look at the kiosks together, directly touch the screens to select menus and payment methods, confirm order numbers, and receive the ordered food as part of the training. The city and consumer organizations conducted a pilot education program for 135 elderly people over about a month in September, and plan to provide kiosk education 12 times over October and November, targeting a total of 500 elderly participants.

Ryu Dae-chang, Director of Fair Economy at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "The goal is to help elderly people, who are both a vulnerable consumer group and digitally disadvantaged, to carry out necessary consumer activities without inconvenience in their daily lives." He added, "We will listen to the opinions of the elderly to improve the education curriculum and expand the training upon request."

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