Hana Financial opens digital career classroom in Gangnam-gu; two more special schools in Incheon and Daejeon set for first half of next year

Ham Young-joo (right), chairman of Hana Financial Group, poses with Jung Hyung-seok, standing representative of the Milal Welfare Foundation, at the unveiling ceremony for the "Digital Career Exploration Classroom" at a school in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Hana Financial Group]
Ham Young-joo (right), chairman of Hana Financial Group, poses with Jung Hyung-seok, standing representative of the Milal Welfare Foundation, at the unveiling ceremony for the "Digital Career Exploration Classroom" at a school in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Hana Financial Group]

Ham Young-joo, chairman of Hana Financial Group, pledged to continue providing "sincere support that bridges education and independence, so that students with developmental disabilities are not left behind in the learning process and can prepare for their own futures."

Ham attended the opening ceremony for a "Digital Career Exploration Classroom" at Milal School in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. At the event, he said he hoped the classroom would give students with developmental disabilities "practical help in discovering their own potential by experiencing a variety of jobs firsthand, nurturing their dreams, and growing into confident members of society."

The initiative was designed to help students with developmental disabilities explore various careers while still in school, identify their aptitudes and potential, and build a practical foundation for vocational education that will allow them to enter society smoothly after graduation.

The classroom is set up so that students can experience a range of job tasks in an environment that closely resembles an actual workplace and practice them repeatedly. Equipment installed includes humanoid robots capable of voice conversation, virtual reality devices for vocational training, multimedia learning kiosks, and tablet PCs for design practice.

Using the digital learning devices, students can simulate real work settings such as virtual restaurants and cafes, practicing customer service, cashiering, and order-taking and confirmation.

Through role-play and situational exercises, students can encounter scenarios they may face on the job and develop the basic skills and communication abilities needed for employment, Hana Financial said.

The program also supports the psychological well-being of special education teachers and staff, who work most closely with students with developmental disabilities. It includes self-understanding assessments with professional counselors, meditation and stress management sessions, and training in the latest teaching methods.

Hana Financial plans to select additional special schools in Incheon and Daejeon to improve the educational environment for students with developmental disabilities in those regions, with the goal of establishing digital vocational education facilities at three special schools in total by the first half of next year.

Hana Bank canceled 134.3 billion won ($102 million) in long-overdue debt on Oct. 8 to help financially vulnerable people get back on their feet. More than 50 Hana Financial employees and their family members also visited 10 households of elderly residents in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on Saturday to carry out home improvement volunteer work.


hyuk@heraldcorp.com