South Korea is intensifying efforts to help older people navigate an increasingly digital society as its rapidly ageing population struggles to access online services and modern technology.
The country has introduced nationwide campaigns and training programmes aimed at improving digital literacy among seniors, amid concerns that the gap between older and younger people is growing.
At a recent government-organised training session in Suwon, south of Seoul, 79-year-old Hwang Sun-hee received cheers after successfully placing an online order.
Hwang said everyday tasks had become increasingly difficult for older people as businesses and public services rely more heavily on smartphone applications and self-service kiosks.
“You can't do anything without smartphone apps or a kiosk machine... It's too much for old folks,” she said.
South Korea's so-called grey digital divide has become increasingly visible. Last year, several baseball clubs began reserving a limited number of tickets for in-person sales after reports of older fans struggling to use ticket machines.
The problem also extends to transport. Nearly 90% of taxi drivers use ride-hailing applications, while more than 80% of South Koreans over the age of 60 still hail taxis manually, according to a survey.
A 71-year-old retired public servant who attended the same training session recalled spending more than 30 minutes trying to stop a taxi on a busy Seoul street while younger passengers using ride-hailing apps were picked up nearby.
“I felt utterly useless,” he said.
Experts warn that the digital divide can have serious consequences, leaving older people more vulnerable to online scams and potentially restricting their access to essential services, including healthcare.
A government survey conducted last year found that 60% of South Koreans over 60 struggled to use public and commercial services because of limited digital skills. This compared with just 6% among people under 40.
Kim Jeung-kun, a professor of senior business at Kangnam University in Seoul, said South Korea's intergenerational digital divide appeared to be wider than in many other countries.
He attributed the gap partly to the country's rapid industrialisation, which transformed society within just a few decades.
South Korea has since become one of the world's leading technology economies. However, many older citizens grew up when access to electricity, landline telephones and formal education was still limited.
The country is now classified by the United Nations as a “super-aged society”, with more than 20% of its population aged 65 and older.
Government digital training programmes for seniors began in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift towards online services.
Authorities now provide training for digitally vulnerable people on smartphones, applications and artificial intelligence. Mobile training vans equipped with technology and mock kiosks also travel to community centres and festivals attended by older residents.
More than 65,000 training sessions were held in 2025, reaching around 650,000 people over the age of 60.
During one session in August, Hwang and about 30 other residents practised paying hospital bills using mock kiosks, interacted with a robotic dog and used their phones to ask Google's Gemini about the weather.
Hwang has attended similar classes several times and said the training has improved her confidence.
However, she said she remained envious of younger generations who could navigate digital services with ease.
“I wish I had been born young in today's world,” Hwang said.