[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] SKTelecom(017670)SK Telecom is reaching out directly to residents in areas where it is difficult to find retail stores or service centers. In Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon counties in South Gyeongsang Province—which have a high proportion of elderly residents—the company is providing services ranging from voice phishing prevention education to smartphone inspections.

SKTelecom announced on the 13th that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the 11th with Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon counties to provide a “mobile service” aimed at ensuring safe use of telecommunications services by local residents and bridging the digital divide.

Under this agreement, SKTelecom will operate the service a total of eight times—twice in each of the four counties. Once each local government determines the location and operational details based on resident demand and local conditions, SKTelecom will visit the site to provide the service.

The program focuses on content that older adults can immediately apply in their daily lives. It provides education on preventing financial crimes such as voice phishing and teaches smartphone usage, while also conducting interactive training sessions, including voice phishing simulations. Participants can also receive on-site consultations regarding telecommunications services, as well as mobile phone inspections and device maintenance.

Sancheong, Hamyang, Geochang, and Hapcheon are regions with a high proportion of elderly residents. According to resident registration statistics from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of the end of July, the percentage of residents aged 65 and older was 46.3% in Sancheong County, 42.2% in Hamyang County, 34.7% in Geochang County, and 48.9% in Hapcheon County. These figures are more than twice the national average of 21.7%.

This agreement is significant in that it expands the outreach services SKTelecom has been operating independently into a collaborative model with local governments. Under this model, local governments connect local residents’ needs with program participants, while SKTelecom provides telecommunications services and educational expertise.

National Assembly Member Shin Seong-beom stated, “The higher the proportion of elderly residents in a region, the greater the financial losses from voice phishing and the wider the digital divide,” adding, “Public-private cooperation, in which experts directly visit local residents to provide necessary education, is crucial.”

This year, SKTelecom conducted its “outreach service” 145 times across 74 cities and counties nationwide, reaching approximately 13,000 customers. The company plans to continue expanding its scope of cooperation to include local governments and public institutions to further strengthen its field-centered services.

Yoo Myung-hyun, County Governor of Sancheong, remarked, “This initiative is highly significant because it allows us to carefully assess the living conditions of local residents—including their voices and telecommunications environment—and provide education tailored to the region’s specific characteristics,” adding, “We will continue to provide customized support through close cooperation with SKTelecom.”

Lee Hye-yeon, Head of the Customer Value Innovation Division at SKTelecom, remarked, “Going directly to where our customers are to provide necessary services and listen to their feedback is a crucial starting point for strengthening customer trust.” She added, “Together with local governments, which know the region best, we will continue our field-centered activities to ensure residents can use telecommunications services safely and conveniently.”