Digital Divide: In South Korea, Being Offline Means Being Left Out

In South Korea, a new requirement for social participation is emerging: digital skill. As the country digitizes at a world-leading pace, the ability to navigate online systems is becoming essential for everything from banking to healthcare to government services. This shift is creating a severe generational divide. South Korea is also one of the world's most rapidly aging societies. A significant portion of its elderly population lacks the fluency younger citizens take for granted. The result is a growing governance challenge. As daily life moves online, those who are not digitally fluent risk exclusion. They face barriers in accessing critical information, benefits, and public platforms. The situation highlights a pressing national issue. How can a society ensure all its citizens can participate, when the very tools for participation are changing? For South Korea, bridging this digital gap is now a fundamental social task.