Advancements in modern tech such as mobile phones are supposed to add ease to our lives and help us stay connected. But many seniors are not used to the technology, and smartphones can be confusing and frustrating. Smartphone classes designed to help them are gaining good response.
Mike Laidman reports.

[Slug] Yeon-dong Community Center, Oct.22

This local community center is holding a smartphone training class for seniors.

[Slug] Smartphone training class for seniors

With their smartphones in hand, they listen earnestly to the talk the presenter is giving.
Due to the vast changes in technology seen in their lifetimes, it can be very challenging to send chat or SMS messages with their smartphones, let alone photos or video clips.
But it's difficult to find help when it's needed.

INTERVIEW
Yi Chun-shim / Smartphone class student
I joined the smartphone class to learn how to better use them.
[인터뷰 : 이춘심 / 제주시 연동 ]
"스마트폰에 대해 모르는 게 많아서 좋은 것 하나라도 더 배우고 싶어서 참여하게 됐습니다."

Following the instructions of their teacher, the students succeed in dictating text to their smartphones and in downloading useful apps.
Suddenly, their devices have become a little less daunting.

INTERVIEW
Kim Seong-hui / Smartphone class student
I added widgets to my home screen for calls and voice searches. They have made my life much easier.
[인터뷰 :김성희 / 제주시 연동 ]
"홈 화면에 위젯 설치를 해가지고 하니까 직접 전화도 걸고 검색도 음성으로 직접 할 수 있게 돼서 굉장히 생활이 편해진 것 같아요."

[Slug] Course is free; always fully booked early

These free smartphone classes, run by Jeju City, take place once a week and have proven to be very popular. The class openings are always all booked up well before the deadline.
All the classes have volunteers present to help the students in following the instructor.

INTERVIEW
Yeo Won-shik / SNS Com Research Inst, Jeju Office
Often, the use of smartphones by seniors is limited to phone calls, text messages, and Kakao Talk. They enroll in these classes to learn other useful functions.
[인터뷰 여원식/ SNS소통연구소 제주지부장 ]
"전화 걸기 받기 문자. 카톡 이 정도만 이제 활용을 하시고..그 외에 많은 좋은 기능들을 활용을 못하시니까 그래서 이런 좋은 기능들을 배우시고 싶어서 참석을 하십니다 "

[Slug] 80+% of adults in their sixties have a smartphone

According to the Korea Information Society Development Institute, only 19 percent of adults aged between 60 and 69 had a smartphone in 2013, and that number grew to 80.4 percent in 2019.

[Slug] Adults age 50+ watch YouTube longer than adults in their 30s or 40s

An interesting note, adults aged 50 or over watch more YouTube video per month, on average, than users in their 30s or 40s.

[Reporter] Mike Laidman
[Camera] Park Byeong-june

These free classes offered by Jeju City are helping many seniors bridge the digital divide, and democratize the technology.

Mike Laidman, KCTV