Promoting Active Ageing through Technology Training in Korea

Abstract

By 2050, people aged 60 and older will comprise 33% of Korea’s population, up from about 12% currently. In many occupational sectors, women retire at 55 and men at 60. This rapidly shifting demographic requires a new perspective on retirement and a better image of older persons in Korea. In line with the Active Ageing Framework of the World Health Organization, the Active Ageing Consortium in Asia Pacific (ACAP) advocates for changes to individual practices, social norms, and social policy to support the continued engagement of older adults as active contributors to society in the 21st century. Digital literacy is a critical element of Active Ageing, enhancing participation in today’s modes of communication and social connectivity. To promote the concept of Active Ageing with Digital Ageing, Korea’s Research Institute of Science for the Better Living of the Elderly (RISBLE) aims to increase Korean elders’ access to information and their opportunities for communication and participation. RISBLE’s programs—Cyber Family, Internet Navigator, and the 1080 Family Online Game Festival—help elders master new technology, strengthen intergenerational relations, gain leadership roles, and contribute as community teachers. This chapter reviews the Korean situation of ageing, outlines ACAP’s commitment to Active Ageing with Digital Ageing, and presents information on three RISBLE programs. These “best practices” are shared in hopes that other communities can learn from RISBLE’s work to reduce the ageing digital divide and promote digital life for older persons in South Korea.