Launches Free Public Wi-Fi Across All Areas

Building Smart Eunpyeong to Establish a 'Public IoT Network'... Aiming for a Smart City Supporting Socially Vulnerable with Smartphone App for 'Imom Taxi' Requests

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] On the morning of the 17th, Mr. B, after finishing his morning exercise, made plans to meet a friend while chatting on KakaoTalk in the park. On his way to meet his friend that afternoon, he listened to a lecture by a child education expert from a YouTube video. Throughout his journey to the meeting place, Mr. B used data on his smartphone to receive real-time map services. Having previously shared his spouse’s wireless data, Mr. B can now use the free Wi-Fi network without any data communication costs thanks to the establishment of the Smart Eunpyeong Network.

Eunpyeong-gu (District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung) announced that starting from the 17th, it has launched ‘free public Wi-Fi’ throughout Eunpyeong, allowing residents to use the internet at speeds four times faster than before without worrying about data charges.

This service can be accessed by turning on the smartphone’s Wi-Fi function and selecting ‘SEOUL’ in public living areas such as parks, walking trails, and main roads. Once set up for the first time, it automatically connects everywhere ‘Kkachion’ is installed without needing to connect separately at each location, providing convenience.

The Smart Eunpyeong Network construction project has a total budget of 3.3 billion KRW and is expected to lay the foundation for Eunpyeong as a smart city where ‘public Wi-Fi’ and ‘public Internet of Things (IOT) networks’ connect all people and things.

The IOT network risk facility data analysis system aims to build a public Internet of Things network as future smart city infrastructure to solve various urban problems. By attaching IOT network sensors to disaster-risk facilities, it prevents safety accidents through systematic data-based analysis and management.

Accordingly, sensors have been attached to 25 aging and risky buildings in Eunpyeong to monitor vibrations, tilting, temperature, and other factors in real time to manage safety conditions.

Eunpyeong-gu aims to be a smart city that supports socially vulnerable groups. To this end, it is expanding the free public Wi-Fi network, densely establishing it in places frequently used by residents, and implementing universal communication welfare services.

Smart operational systems considerate of socially vulnerable groups are widely deployed, including children’s smart school zone traffic safety consulting, emergency call taxi services for pregnant women, and parking sharing services that bring happiness to the elderly.

In particular, for pregnant women, the ‘I-Mom Taxi’ service is operated, allowing reservations and dispatch through a smartphone app.

The systematic operation of Smart City Eunpyeong in 2020 has led to various contest wins and awards. It was selected for three projects in the 2020 Seoul Digital Foundation Smart City contest (School Zone Safety: Children’s Design is the Answer, IOT Network Risk Facility Data Analysis System, Deep Learning Screening Surveillance Solution), and received top honors at the Smart City Competition and an excellence award at the Manifesto Best Practice Competition, being recognized by multiple organizations as a ‘smart city for socially vulnerable groups under the 7th local government administration.’

Kim Mi-kyung, Mayor of Eunpyeong-gu, stated, “The establishment of the Smart Eunpyeong Network system is a facility that lays the foundation for a smart city,” adding, “With the implementation of this service for residents’ convenience, we declare the right to basic communication as a right everyone should be guaranteed and will take the lead in welfare for the digitally marginalized.”

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