On February 3, the Seoul Metropolitan Government held the 2026 First-Half Appointment and Launch Ceremony for Digital Guides at Seoul City Hall’s multipurpose hall and announced that 124 newly selected digital guides would begin full-scale field operations. Wearing distinctive orange vests, the digital guides will primarily work at locations closely connected to daily life, including subway stations, welfare facilities, and parks. Starting this year, their role has been expanded beyond basic digital device assistance to include support for using artificial intelligence (AI).
Since their launch in 2022, digital guides have assisted a cumulative total of 780,000 citizens through last year, establishing themselves as a people-centered, on-site digital support model. In 2025 alone, they supported 320,000 people, surpassing the initial target of 300,000, with a user satisfaction rate of 98.6 percent. Among users, 93.3 percent were in their 60s or older, and assistance mainly focused on kiosk use, app installation, and access to transportation and financial services.
This year’s digital guides were selected through a competitive process with an average applicant-to-position ratio of 2.7 to 1. Participants range in age from 33 to 79, reflecting diverse generational backgrounds. After completing a 10-day intensive training program, they began operating in February across approximately 310 locations throughout Seoul. These locations are organized along 62 routes, with two to three routes assigned per district, focusing on areas with high demand for digital access.
In addition to existing support for smartphones and kiosks, digital guides now provide counseling and assistance on practical AI functions such as AI-based image editing, document creation, voice assistant use, and foreign language translation. This marks a shift from basic device instruction to helping citizens actively integrate AI into their everyday lives.
Beyond immediate on-site problem-solving, digital guides also connect citizens to longer-term learning resources, including Seoul Digital Companion Plaza, Digital Learning Centers, and Neighborhood Digital Help Desks. Currently, the city operates five Seoul Digital Companion Plazas, seven Digital Learning Centers, and 78 Neighborhood Digital Help Desks.
Seoul plans to continue implementing policies aimed at reducing not only the digital divide but also the gap in AI utilization. The city will strengthen support so that digitally vulnerable citizens can use AI not as a burdensome technology but as a tool that enhances everyday convenience, while helping residents build confidence and adapt to a rapidly changing digital and AI environment.
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government
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