Food & Drink
City of Busan and Lotteria launch ‘Digital Masil’ program to bridge the digital divide for seniors
haps magazine korea
October 25, 2024
(Image: City of Busan)
In collaboration with Lotte GRS, the city of Busan is launching the ‘Digital Masil’ program in November to help close the digital gap for elderly citizens.
This public-private cooperation initiative aims to teach seniors how to use self-service kiosks through both theoretical education and practical on-site training at Lotteria locations.
As part of the growing trend of non-face-to-face and unmanned services in places like restaurants, cafes, and cinemas, many elderly individuals have expressed discomfort and difficulty using kiosks.
In response, Busan has developed the ‘Digital Masil’ program to enhance seniors’ digital skills and ease their use of everyday technology.
This is the first program of its kind in a provincial area, created in partnership with the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Korea Intelligence Information Society Agency, and Lotte GRS. The goal for this year is to educate 500 seniors on how to use unmanned ordering machines.
The program, which started from October 21 in select areas, the program will expand to 17 digital learning centers throughout Busan in November.
Participants will receive theoretical training on kiosk use at the centers and then practice their skills at Lotteria stores, where they will use digital coupons to place real orders on the machines. Each course lasts for two days and is completely free.
Seniors aged 60 and above can apply for the ‘Digital Masil’ program by visiting the Digital Learning Center website or calling 1800-0096.
Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis, with each session accommodating up to 12 participants.
In addition to this program, the Digital Learning Center offers a wide range of free digital education courses, from basic digital literacy to employment-related training.
These programs will run until December 12 at locations like the Busan Library, Busan Eurasia Platform, and various district offices, ensuring that seniors have ample opportunities to develop their digital skills.