LINKs Across Generations: ROK Students Share Insights on Digital Literacy Programs in Super-Aged Society

Tokyo, Japan — 26th June 2025 — The Global Frontier Team “LINKS” from Hanyang University visited the Hongo campus of Juntendo University in Tokyo, Japan to discuss with Digitally Inclusive Healthy Ageing Communities (DIHAC) study team, in the interest of reducing the digital gaps and AI gaps.  The team LINKs members are Seohyeon Oh, Department of Business Administration, Hajin Gweon, Department of Policy, and Eunchae Moon, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They are students from Hanyang University, Seoul. They discussed the digital divide in the Republic of Korea (ROK), a country embracing a super -aged society, and the current public policy for digital literacy education and programs initiatives that state and non-state actors are running.

Figure 1: DIHAC Study PI Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung and LINKS team members at Juntendo University

Principal Investigator of the DIHAC study Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung shared perspectives on cross-cultural digital inclusion and community-based social innovations (CBSIs) promoting healthy ageing across Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Discussions expanded into theoretical frameworks, the intersection of digital and healthy ageing policies in Asia and future collaborations between DIHAC and LINKS. Professor Myo also offered guidance on future research directions, particularly on financing models, and the sustainability of these digital education programs.

The ROK team also toured the Department of Global Health Research at Juntendo University, where they were introduced with Professor Motoyuki Yuasa and the team. As part of its focus on international collaboration, the department provides internship opportunities for students passionate about advancing health equity and digital inclusion research in a global context.

Figure 2: Researchers of DIHAC Study, Juntendo University, Japan and LINKS research team, Hanyang University, Republic of Korea in front of Juntendo University, Hongo, Tokyo

The DIHAC team was pleased to engage with new generation researchers, contributing to the future of global health research and innovation. Their curiosity, fresh perspectives, and thoughtful engagement were greatly appreciated. The visiting students also expressed gratitude for the warm reception and insightful discussions, noting their interest in maintaining and expanding such meaningful academic connections moving forward.