Shinhan Financial designates 'Hak-i-jae' centers as national AI digital learning hubs

Shinhan Financial Group announced Tuesday that it will designate its digital financial education centers, known as "Shinhan Hak-i-jae," as national AI digital learning hubs and eventually make them available as digital competency support centers.

The group signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Science and ICT at the Korea Federation of Banks building in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday, focusing on strengthening AI capabilities among digitally vulnerable populations and promoting safe digital financial services.

The agreement aims to narrow the digital divide for vulnerable groups — including the elderly and people with disabilities — as AI and digital technologies continue to spread, while also working to prevent financial fraud such as voice phishing and smishing and to improve access to mobile banking. It represents a public-private cooperation model linking the financial sector's infrastructure with the government's AI education policy.

Under the agreement, Shinhan Financial will make its Hak-i-jae financial education centers — built in unused space at its branches — available as national AI digital learning hubs and future digital competency support centers. The group will also provide financial education specialists and training content to support the Ministry of Science and ICT's program for developing AI and digital instructors. It also plans to offer practical, everyday digital financial education content through its financial education platform "Shinhan conSOLe."

Shinhan Financial currently operates four Hak-i-jae centers — in Incheon, Suwon, Busan and Gwangju — offering digital financial education covering voice phishing prevention and mobile banking. Shinhan conSOLe was built around the actual interface of the group's "Super SOL" app, allowing users to practice safe mobile banking, learn about voice phishing prevention and remedies, and search for unclaimed assets.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Gyeong-hun said it is important that no one is left behind in the AI era and that everyone can benefit equally from AI and digital technologies without discrimination. "We will identify and expand exemplary public-private cooperation cases like the AI digital learning hub so that all citizens can enjoy the benefits of advanced technology," he said.

Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Jin Ok-dong said AI and digital education goes beyond teaching people how to use devices. "It is about protecting people's assets from financial fraud," he said. "We will work closely with the Ministry of Science and ICT, leveraging the group's online and offline financial education infrastructure, so that no one is left behind in the digital transformation."

Meanwhile, Shinhan Financial is also pursuing cooperation with the Korea Internet & Security Agency to combat telecommunications financial fraud, including voice phishing and smishing. The group plans to link KISA's threat intelligence data to its fraud detection system and create a "smartphone health" environment that supports the detection and removal of malicious applications.