Cherry Hosts First Workshop for Barrier-Free Kiosk Pilot Support

Bridging the Information Gap Through Software-Based Accessibility Technology Without Hardware Replacement

Cherry Co., Ltd., the operator of the blockchain-based donation platform CHERRY, announced on the 26th that it held the first workshop for its barrier-free kiosk pilot project with support from Daegu Metropolitan City and Daegu Technopark, as part of the '2025 Smart City Innovative Technology Discovery Program.'

The workshop was held at Daegu Makerspace Startline and was attended by Cherry representatives, assistive technology and engineering experts, and participating citizens. Attendees discussed the direction of the pilot technology and areas for improvement.

This pilot aims to respond to the mandatory implementation of barrier-free kiosks scheduled for 2026 by verifying a software-based alternative technology that enhances accessibility without replacing existing kiosks. Cherry proposed a solution in which a QR code is attached to the kiosk hardware, allowing users to load and operate the kiosk interface on their smartphones. This approach is expected to improve accessibility for wheelchair users, people with disabilities, and older adults, while also reducing the financial burden on small business owners.

The workshop featured expert participation from Han-soo Kim, Director at Ilmanbaekman Co., Ltd., and Professor Geun-min Lee. Director Kim is a technology and intellectual property (IP) expert who has led mobile software development projects at Samsung Electronics and LG Uplus and previously served as head of IP divisions. Professor Lee earned a Ph.D. in Assistive Technology from Johns Hopkins University and previously served as president of the Korean Society of Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology. He is currently a full professor in the Department of Medical Rehabilitation at Daegu University and Director of the Daegu Assistive Device Center. He has also received a Presidential Commendation for his contributions to reducing the digital divide.

During the workshop, the following key areas for improvement to be addressed during the pilot phase were identified: △ Differentiation from existing barrier-free kiosks△ Security issues, including potential QR code misuse△ Screen-reading functions for visually impaired users△ Location-based technology and real-time QR code regeneration

These findings will be reflected in the second workshop and the detailed pilot design.

Lee Soo-jung, CEO of Cherry, said, “Through this first round of pilot discussions, we were able to clearly define the core user groups and key challenges of barrier-free kiosks. We will implement a service that provides real, practical support to information-vulnerable users by improving accessibility through technology without replacing hardware.”

Meanwhile, based on the outcomes of this workshop, Cherry plans to proceed with a second workshop and begin preparations for full-scale pilot testing. The company aims to expand barrier-free kiosk technology across smart city and public-sector applications.