Digital literacy and social capital during COVID-19 : a comparison among vulnerable social groups

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examined the digital literacy of vulnerable social groups (North Korean defector and marriage immigrant) and the effects of their digital literacy on social capital compared to the general public (South Korean). We used data of South Koreans, North Korean defectors, and marriage immigrants from the ‘2020 The Report on the Digital Divide’. We analysed the difference in digital literacy between the general population (South Korean) and the vulnerable groups (North Korean defector and marriage immigrant) after COVID-19, and how this gap affects the social capital of each group. We discussed how vulnerable group’s digital literacy could become more disproportionate compared to mainstream society in a catastrophic situation, which can lead to weakened social capital.