SK Telecom will expand on-site support for older residents, including voice-phishing prevention education and smartphone checks.

SK Telecom said on Sept. 13 it signed a memorandum of understanding on Sept. 11 with Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang and Hapcheon counties for residents to use telecom services safely and to narrow the digital information gap.

Mobile service is a programme in which SKT visits residents directly to provide telecom service counselling, smartphone use training and device checks. It held 145 sessions this year in 74 cities and counties nationwide, with about 13,000 participants.

Under the agreement, SKT will run eight mobile service sessions, 2 in each of the four counties. In addition to existing telecom service counselling, it will provide participatory, hands-on programmes for older residents, including voice-phishing prevention education and experiences.

The four counties have a higher share of older residents than the national average. According to Ministry of the Interior and Safety resident registration population statistics, as of the end of July, the share of residents aged 65 or older was 46.3 percent in Sancheong, 42.2 percent in Hamyang, 34.7 percent in Geochang and 48.9 percent in Hapcheon, or 1.6 to 2.3 times the national average of 21.7 percent.

Residents can receive financial crime prevention and smartphone use training, and counselling related to telecom services, on site. Regardless of carrier, SKT also provides device care services including smartphone sanitising cleaning, protective film replacement and device checks.

The four counties will set event venues, operating methods and participation 규모 based on local conditions and will support resident participation by using local networks.

Hye-yeon Lee (이혜연), head of SKT's Customer Value Innovation Office, said, "We will continue field-focused activities so that residents can use telecom services more safely and conveniently together with local governments that know their areas best."