Korea’s Smart City Powers Urban Innovation

Key Smart City Programs

1. K‑City Network

This global cooperation project enables foreign cities to learn from South Korea’s achievements in smart urban planning. Participants explore solutions in transportation, environment, energy, agriculture, and ICT through customized tours and technology workshops.

2. Smart City Integrated Platform

Operating since 2015, this core data-management system connects urban services—like crime prevention, disaster response, and traffic control—within a central Integrated Operation Center. The platform enables coordinated citywide monitoring and optimized decision-making.

3. Smart City Innovation Growth Engine

Between 2018–2022, K‑Smart developed a “data hub” model that unifies IoT, digital twin systems, semantic data, and public-private partnerships. This R&D project aimed to create replicable solutions for living labs and sustainable urban growth.

City Data + AI Pilots

In the latest 2025 “City Data + AI” initiative, selected cities—including Ulsan, Jeju, and Chungcheongbuk-do—will receive up to KRW 1 billion in national matching funds. This grants them the capacity to build Smart City Data Hubs, integrating multi-source urban data and piloting AI-driven services, such as predictive maintenance for utilities and vacancy detection via energy use patterns.

Why It Matters

• Digital Infrastructure: The extensive data platforms create a backbone for resilient, interconnected urban systems.

• AI-Driven Efficiency: From tools that optimize traffic flows to models that forecast emergencies, AI is improving urban responsiveness.

• Global Outreach: Through the K‑City Network, South Korea is exporting its smart city expertise, fostering international collaboration.

• Public Services Impact: Innovations range from smarter transport to proactive environmental monitoring and energy management.