Busan, Jeju, Gangneung, and Other 6 Locations Selected for 'Smart Challenge' Main Project

Barrier-free transportation environment to be promoted through Busan City's Smart Challenge main project (Photo by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Jiwon] The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 18th that through the evaluation of the 'Smart Challenge Main Project,' six cities with outstanding performance were finally selected as the main project sites among 11 local governments that had conducted preliminary projects for one year.

For the City Challenge aimed at solving problems at the city level, Busan, Jeju, and Gangneung were selected, while for the Town Challenge at the regional community level, Gwangyang, Seosan, and Wonju were chosen.

The City Challenge is a project that implements comprehensive solutions for smartification across the entire city based on ideas from private companies. Each city receives a project budget of 21.5 billion KRW.

During the preliminary project period, Busan experimented with transportation means that are accessible and convenient for transportation-vulnerable groups, focusing on Dong-gu, where the proportion of transportation-vulnerable people is 36.5%. In the main project, Busan plans to establish barrier-free stations and ride-sharing platforms throughout the city. Barrier-free stations are spaces where people can wait to board special vehicles using ride-sharing platforms or public transportation.

Additionally, Busan will promote safety zones that prevent pedestrian-vehicle collisions in transportation-vulnerable protection areas and operate data labs that generate big data available for private sector use, enabling citizens to experience a safe and convenient transportation environment.

Jeju Province, considering its regional conditions with high renewable energy production and electric vehicle ratios, planned a smart hub model linking renewable energy and shared mobility. Jeju utilizes technology that stores, moves, and charges produced energy in batteries to supply electricity to industrial and residential complexes or to charge green mobility (electric cars, electric kickboards, electric bicycles).

Gangneung proposed a small and medium-sized city smart city model that revitalizes local small business districts through convenient public transportation and digital platforms. In the main project, Gangneung plans to expand mobility stations throughout the city and promote connections not only with KTX but also with Yangyang Airport and Gangneung Port ferries.

They will provide a one-day transfer discount service between city buses and mobility, and, in connection with the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project that modernizes the public transportation backbone network, offer public transportation convenience at the level of large cities.

For the Town Challenge main project, Gwangyang City, which is creating a smart eco-town based on the concept of resource circulation; Seosan City, which is establishing a smart safety model for industrial complexes and nearby villages; and Wonju City, which provides transportation and crime prevention services connecting universities and local communities, were selected.

The announcement materials can be viewed through the National Smart City Integrated Portal.

Choi Imrak, Director of Urban Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will expand the achievements of the Smart Challenge preliminary projects, such as consideration for transportation-vulnerable groups, prevention of environmental disasters, and convenience of daily life, throughout the entire city so that many citizens can experience the effects of smart cities."

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