The government will work with Shinhan Financial Group to improve the ability of digitally vulnerable people to use AI and to strengthen education to prevent financial fraud such as smishing and deepfakes.

The Ministry of Science and ICT on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with Shinhan Financial Group at the Korea Federation of Banks building in Seoul to strengthen AI capabilities among digitally vulnerable groups and promote safe use of digital finance.

The two sides will cooperate on expanding AI and digital education infrastructure, training specialist instructors, and developing and distributing educational content tailored to different skill levels.

The ministry provides training on smartphone and kiosk use and hands-on generative AI practice, centered on 69 AI Digital Learning Centers nationwide. Shinhan Financial Group operates education centers called Hakijae in Incheon, Suwon, Busan and Gwangju for older people, offering mobile banking training and education to prevent voice phishing.

Shinhan Financial Group will support using unused spaces at major hubs nationwide as AI Digital Learning Centers. The Hakijae center in Incheon has been designated as an AI Digital Learning Center.

The two sides will also work together to train specialist instructors. The ministry will train about 1,000 AI and digital instructors who will teach vulnerable groups such as older people. Shinhan Financial Group will provide financial education faculty and financial safety education content for the specialist instructor training course.

They will also develop step-by-step AI and digital education and financial fraud prevention programmes tailored to the capabilities of vulnerable groups. Shinhan Financial Group plans to link related pathways so that users can apply for AI Digital Learning Center classes through the group's mobile platform.

Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈), deputy prime minister and minister of science and ICT, said it was important that no one is left behind in the AI era and that the benefits of AI and digital technologies are shared widely. He said the government would expand examples of public-private cooperation and support the public so that everyone can benefit from advanced technologies.

Jin Ok-dong (진옥동), chairman of Shinhan Financial Group, said AI and digital education goes beyond teaching how to use devices and helps protect people's assets from financial fraud. He said the group would cooperate so that no one is left behind by digital change by using online and offline financial education infrastructure.