Taking a Big Step Forward in Creating an Action-Oriented Smart City

Four Major Goals: Life-Centered Inclusive City, Innovation-Based Creative City, Sustainable Future City, Resident-Experience Demonstration City; Providing 32 Smart City Services in Safety, Environment, Economy, Urban Administration by 2024

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Dongjak-gu (Mayor Changwoo Lee) has completed the establishment of a comprehensive plan for creating a Dongjak-type smart city to provide residents with a safer and more convenient life.

First, the district has designated 2019 as the inaugural year of the smart city and is seeking sustainable solutions aimed at implementing an urban model that approaches residents' everyday problems with an evolved mindset.

In the field of living safety, initiatives include ▲starting with the installation of a smart pedestrian path at Seoul Daerim Elementary School and expanding to 9 school zones across 8 schools ▲establishing a smart safety management system targeting hazardous facilities in the area ▲operating 20 smart shade shelters.

In response to COVID-19, the district implemented ▲installation of smart air showers at Moms Heart Cafe in Sadang 3-dong and 16 daycare centers ▲creation of smart health zones at 7 public facilities within the district ▲operation of 3 smart libraries for non-face-to-face services.

Additionally, to address traffic, living, and disaster safety issues in Sadang 1-dong and 4-dong, the nation’s first smart safety village themed on safety will be developed over three years.

Since May last year, the district has initiated a smart city creation project, collecting opinions from residents and experts through ▲analysis of electronic civil complaint data ▲resident surveys ▲three expert advisory meetings, and has established differentiated execution strategy plans.

On the 14th, the district held the final report meeting for the smart city plan, announcing a plan to promote 32 smart city creation projects under four major goals by 2024, with the vision of “Dongjak, an innovative future city enjoying a smart life”: ▲a life-centered inclusive city ▲an innovation-based creative city ▲a sustainable future city ▲a resident-experienced demonstration city.

◆ Life-Centered Inclusive City ? Safety, Living Environment, Care

Using intelligent CCTV and IoT sensor-based data collection and real-time monitoring, rational decision-making is enabled during incidents such as flooding, fire, and crime, and real-time situations are communicated to residents.

Furthermore, by integrating 5G and digital twin technology into the Dongjak-gu smart safety management system, a real-time safety management system for public facilities and construction sites is secured.

In the living environment sector, the “Fine Dust Data Platform” measures fine dust in real time at various locations such as construction sites, school routes, and bus stops. Public trash bins using IoT sensors and solar power, along with AI-based illegal dumping monitoring services, are provided to help create a clean street environment.

Moreover, to build a dense social safety net, data on the living habits, diseases, and ages of elderly living alone are collected and analyzed, and personalized health guidelines are provided through expert feedback.

◆ Innovation-Based Creative City ? Economy

The district proposes talent development and new economic activity models suited to the rapidly changing smart era.

Innovative work environments such as smart work centers integrating IT infrastructure and makerspaces supporting active startup activities are created, and an education platform tailored to learners’ characteristics by life cycle is established through VR/AR-based IT experience zones.

Additionally, the district promotes regional economic revitalization by building smart tourism infrastructure. It integrates and manages tourism content held by both public and private sectors, analyzes tourism patterns based on big data, and provides residents with living and tourism information through digital signage installed in local commercial areas.

Digital signage refers to display advertising boards using LED or LCD.

◆ Sustainable Future City ? Urban and Administration

The district prepares “smart public facility usage services” to enable all residents to easily use libraries, public sports facilities, and youth and child welfare facilities.

Also, by linking with the Seoul public Wi-Fi integrated management system, it strives to provide universal welfare by allowing residents to use Wi-Fi for free in parks, traditional markets, village buses, and other locations.

◆ Resident-Experienced Demonstration City ? Public Governance Establishment

The district builds a public-private cooperation platform based on blockchain and ICT, creating a system where various stakeholders such as residents, companies, and experts can participate.

Through the operation of a smart city living lab, residents and companies take a leading role from problem identification to technology experimentation, dissemination, and application, aiming for a virtuous cycle including profit generation.

The district plans to form a smart city plan working group by October and establish ordinances related to smart city creation to proceed with the project practically.

It also plans to foster future innovative growth regional industries by building cooperative systems with neighboring local governments.

Changwoo Lee, Mayor of Dongjak-gu, said, “We have taken a big step toward creating a life-centered smart city that fits the district’s characteristics and is felt by residents,” adding, “We will continue to prioritize residents and do our best to realize Dongjak as a city where everyone wants to live and that is pleasant to live in, evolving in all fields.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.