The ‘Smartphone Usage Education for Seniors’ is held every Thursday at the Bohun Welfare Sarangchae, a welfare space in Bomun-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul.
The education is organized by the Bomun-dong Community Social Security Council and was established to bridge the digital information gap. It started the first class on June 19 and has been conducted up to the 7th session.
The classes are held every Thursday from 1 PM for two hours. Currently, 11 seniors are participating, and the curriculum includes subjects closely related to everyday life, such as basic smartphone operation, sending text messages, taking photos, and using KakaoTalk.
The education is planned and executed directly by local residents. The council members are in charge of recruiting students and arranging the classroom, while two instructors are provided free of charge through the Digital Learning Center project.
This program, attempted for the first time this year, will continue until the end of November.
Lim Maeng-shim, the chairman of the Bomun-dong Community Social Security Council, stated, “While smartphones are essential, some struggle because they don’t know how to use them,” and added, “We will continue to work on various projects to improve the quality of life for the elderly.”
Seung-ro Lee, the mayor of Seongbuk-gu, said, “This is an example of helping seniors not be alienated from the digital environment,” and pledged, “Seongbuk-gu will continue to expand inclusive programs.”