Anseong City Supports Second Act for Middle-Aged Citizens... Strengthens AI and Certification Education

Second Semester Entrance Ceremony Held for Happiness Campus
180 Participants Enrolled in 11 Programs
Mayor Bora Kim: “Connecting to Jobs and Social Contribution”

Anseong City in Gyeonggi Province is supporting the practical skills development of middle-aged and senior citizens, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the acquisition of certifications.

Bora Kim, mayor of Anseong City, is delivering a greeting at the "2026 Anseong Middle-aged and Senior Happy Campus Second Half Enrollment Ceremony" held on the 20th at the AI Future Hall International Convention Center of Hankyong National University. Provided by Anseong City

Anseong City (Mayor Bora Kim) announced on August 21 that it held the "2026 Anseong Middle-Aged and Senior Happiness Campus Second Semester Entrance Ceremony" at the International Convention Center of Hankyong National University AI Future Hall on August 20, marking the official start of its educational programs.

The entrance ceremony was attended by Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong, Chanki Kim, President of Hankyong National University, Insook Ban, Chairperson of the Anseong City Council, as well as around 160 students and stakeholders from related organizations. The event also featured a joint performance by new and current students, an introduction to the Happiness Campus, and an inaugural lecture.

Anseong Middle-Aged and Senior Happiness Campus is a program that connects education, counseling, job opportunities, and social contribution activities to help middle-aged and senior citizens adapt to a changing society and plan for the second half of life. The program has been operating since 2022.

For the second half of this year, 180 participants have registered for 11 regular courses. The city has shifted its focus away from traditional hobby and liberal arts classes, instead emphasizing certification acquisition, professional skill development, and strengthening digital competencies.

The certification programs include the First-Class Spoon Drum Instructor Course, On-Site Cooking Company Course, First-Class Senior Cognitive Training Instructor Course, and Second-Class Book Play Instructor Course, among others. There is also a coffee machine repair technician course, which covers the structure of semi-automatic espresso machines and hands-on repair skills.

Lifestyle and culture classes are also available, including slow aging recipes, vocal training, and a class on Anseong’s cultural artisanship.

Notably, this year a new training program was launched to strengthen AI proficiency among middle-aged participants. The "AI Kindergarten" is a beginner course that teaches how to utilize AI in daily life using smartphones and PCs. The "Completing Personal Branding with AI" course enables individuals to concretize their experiences and strengths into a personal brand and to create short-form videos and AI-generated music on their own.

Anseong City (Mayor Kim Bora) held the '2026 Anseong Middle-aged and Senior Happiness Campus Second Semester Entrance Ceremony' on the 20th at the Hankyong National University AI Future Hall International Convention Center. Provided by Anseong City

The education is also leading to employment, entrepreneurship, and social contribution activities. In the first half of the year, 29 graduates found jobs or started their own businesses, and 36 gained new employment opportunities through cooperation with the Job Center, Kkum Maru, and after-school programs. Several students became instructors at local institutions or founded cooperatives, unmanned cafes, and senior education companies.

Social contribution activities have also continued. In the first half of the year, 17 students from the "Advanced Senior Cognitive Instructor" course established the "Tobagi Silver Care" community, implementing dementia prevention programs four times for senior citizens at local senior centers, applying and giving back what they learned to the local community.

Bora Kim, Mayor of Anseong, stated, "Middle-aged and senior citizens are a valuable asset to our community, possessing extensive experience and expertise. We will actively support citizens so that the skills and knowledge acquired through the Happiness Campus can lead to new jobs and social contributions, enabling them to play a proud and central role in the community."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.