It has been found that 8 out of 100 adults in Korea struggle with the operation of digital devices in daily life. These individuals are said to have difficulty using applications to send money or ordering food through kiosks, indicating minimal use of digital technology.
On the 19th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the '1st National Adult Digital Literacy Survey,' which contains these details.
This survey aims to assess the level of digital literacy among adults in Korea. It was conducted for the first time last year in response to the need for a national level assessment of adults' understanding and utilization of digital devices and technology. The survey targeted approximately 10,000 adults aged 18 and older across the country.
The areas of the survey include ▲Basic digital usage ▲Digital information utilization ▲Digital communication ▲Digital safety ▲Digital problem-solving. The survey results categorize the levels from 1 to 4, with lower levels indicating reduced digital literacy.
The proportion of people who fall into 'level 1,' which indicates difficulty with basic digital device operation in daily life, was found to be 8.2% (about 3.5 million people). Essentially, this means they only use their mobile phones to make calls or send text messages.
'Level 2,' which indicates basic understanding and device operation capabilities but insufficient for daily usage, accounted for 17.7% (about 7.58 million people) of the total.
In addition, 'level 3,' which represents the ability to solve daily life problems using digital devices or technology, but lacking critical and safe utilization, is at 21.4% (about 9.18 million people). 'Level 4,' which indicates proficiency in using digital devices or technology to resolve various problems in daily life smoothly, is at 5.28% (about 2.27 million people).
Those struggling with digital devices are primarily older individuals and those with lower income or education levels. It is estimated that 23.3% of adults aged 60 and older, 34.6% of those with education levels below middle school graduation, and 25.9% of adults with monthly household incomes below 3 million won lack basic understanding and experience with digital technology, leading to difficulties in daily life.
97% of adults in Korea reported using digital devices to 'stay in touch with family, friends, and acquaintances.' This was followed by 'searching for information in daily life' (84.8%), 'leisure activities such as watching YouTube' (84.4%), and 'online shopping and electronic payments' (70.8%).
Based on the results of this survey, the Ministry of Education plans to strengthen support for lifelong education in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology targeting adults.
Vice Minister Choi Eun-ok stated, 'This survey allowed us to identify the scale and characteristics of adults who struggle with utilizing digital devices and technology. We will actively support adults who are not familiar with digital devices and technology to ensure they are not marginalized.'