AI의 일상화, 전국을 잇는 디지털 배움터가 해답이다 > K-wave Trends

In Seoul, a new paradigm combining art and technology is emerging. The Seoul AI Foundation and the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture have launched customized educational programs to help artists expand their creative horizons and communicate more actively with audiences using AI. This is a strategic move that goes beyond learning digital tools; it involves grappling with the ethical issues that may arise in the art scene to create a safe and sustainable creative ecosystem. Furthermore, efforts are being made to bridge the digital divide by establishing new training courses for "digitally vulnerable" groups, such as small business owners and individuals with disabilities who struggle with AI adoption.

Local governments, including Yangsan City in Gyeongnam, are dramatically lowering the barriers to digital technology through field-oriented education. Beyond using information technology centers within city hall as hubs, they are operating a "visiting service" where instructors are dispatched directly to village halls or senior centers whenever eight or more citizens gather. This approach helps break down the psychological barriers for seniors who were vaguely afraid of using digital devices, allowing them to naturally learn how to use smartphone apps and kiosks in their daily lives. In particular, by stationing professional instructors at hub centers to provide both classes and consultations, they have established a system that immediately resolves the minor inconveniences faced by learners.

Digital technology has now become a powerful engine for maximizing administrative efficiency. The practical generative AI training conducted for resident autonomy committee members in Jeju Island clearly demonstrates the potential for innovation in the public sector. The members experienced firsthand the practical processes of using AI to automatically organize meeting minutes, derive solutions to community problems through vast data analysis, and even draft project proposals. This has been praised for significantly reducing the administrative labor previously required for manual tasks and creating an environment where focus can be shifted toward discovering more creative policy ideas. The sight of AI even acting as a judge in administrative reviews to provide objective evaluation criteria proves how much digital transformation can contribute to the qualitative improvement of administrative services.

Protecting the safe economic activities of the elderly in the face of changing digital financial environments is also a critical task. The Senior Financial Academy, conducted by Daegu Metropolitan City in collaboration with the Financial Supervisory Service, has equipped the elderly with practical defenses to protect themselves from the threats of digital financial fraud. Education directly linked to daily life—ranging from how to use mobile banking to preventing voice phishing and managing retirement assets—has been very well received by seniors. Cultivating digital citizenship is not just about emphasizing the convenience of technology, but about developing the ability to recognize the hidden risks behind it and respond safely.

The case of the Seosan City Public Health Center in Chungnam demonstrates how digital devices can become reliable partners in health management. The AI/IoT-based health management education for the elderly provided foundational skills for monitoring and managing physical changes by linking smart devices with health apps. Individualized practical training based on smartphone models and usage proficiency enabled trainees to perform health missions in their daily lives and actively check their own health information. This serves as an excellent model for how local communities can use digital technology to guarantee the right to health for the elderly population and realize preventive welfare.