Hanyang Cyber University Department of Senior Business (Dean Kim Shin-young) and monthly PowerKorea held an event for a PR agreement and development fund transfer on 11th last month at Hanyang Cyber University. 

PowerKorea CEO Baek Jong-won donated development fund to the department to be used for fostering experts needed in the aging society. Baek said “We have made a donation to cultivate professionals in the silver industry alongside providing PR.” Kim said “We will do our best to cultivate excellent talents in the silver industry that will be the core industry of the future.” 

The Department Senior Business was opened in 2008 as the first major among cyber universities. In preparation for the low-birth elderly society, the department runs training courses with a goal of cultivating professionals who will lead health care, start-up, consulting, leisure and education in the field. The number of students applied for the courses increased by 54% on last year. Kim said “The characteristics of the students of the department are that they have a very clear sense of entrepreneurship and employment goals for the silver industry. In particular, the understanding of the elderly society is clear, and we are actively promoting employment opportunities in the education courses related to the silver industry. Most of the students are trying to find new opportunities in what they are doing that reflects the characteristics of the elderly society.” 

The department has signed a MOU with the Korea Life Design Association and students are given a chance to take the test of the association after completing 4 subjects. The Ending Coordinator qualification course especially is underway this year. The department’s current course, which is being conducted this year, focuses on cultivating a workforce capable of playing a variety of roles in preparing the ultra-aging society by acquiring expertise in nursing, wills, pet-loss, well dying, keepsake arrangement, Long-Term Care Insurance, organ donation and adult guardianship through the Ending Coordinator Curriculum, which will be a promising career in the future. Korea Ending Life Support Association President Kim Kwon-ki said “Studying at Hanyang Cyber University Department of Senior Business made me aware of the past and reality of the silver industry, and at the same time, I became more convinced that in Korea, the convergence of the silver industry and the funeral industry can become a vision for the future. The silver industry in domestic society is the fastest aging industry in the world, so if you don’t prepare from now on, it could be disastrous in your old age. For the same reason, there will be a high demand for professionals who can prepare for the whole of life, and the future of the silver industry will be even brighter, especially since the majority of the population is 65 years old.” Professor Kim said “Ending coordinators who fuse the silver industry with endings can give seniors the opportunity to engage in professional activities. It is expected to be able to provide employment and start-up opportunities to various industries such as commercial enterprises, insurance companies, financial firms, legal affairs, nursing facilities, social welfare facilities, and IT development industries.”