Yongsan-gu Provides Nation's First Metaverse-Based 'Safe Real Estate Brokerage Service'

Utilizing Metaverse Platforms Where Virtual and Real Coexist: Real-Time Real Estate Information Provided with Local Real Estate Agencies... Connecting Digital Twin Space (S-Map) and On-Site VR of Real Estate Offices

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjanghyun) is the first in the nation to utilize a metaverse platform where virtual and real worlds coexist, providing information on registered real estate brokerage offices starting from the 10th of this month.

This is due to the increased demand for non-face-to-face services that can be used anytime regardless of the social distancing level caused by COVID-19.

The metaverse is a compound word of ‘meta,’ meaning virtual or abstract, and ‘universe,’ meaning the real world, referring to a three-dimensional virtual world where the boundary between reality and virtuality disappears.

The Yongsan-gu Safe Real Estate Brokerage Service is available 24/7, 365 days a year through a banner linked on the Yongsan-gu Office website. When accessing the site, users can check information on 912 registered real estate brokerage offices in Yongsan-gu on S-MAP, a three-dimensional virtual reality map of the entire Seoul area.

By clicking the red icon, users can also view the interiors of 107 real estate brokerage offices filmed with 360° VR cameras. Clicking the icon at the top right connects to the Seoul Real Estate Information Plaza, where users can check real estate information, brokerage fees, transaction details, and more.

Im Ja-gyeong (34), a Yongsan-gu resident who used the service, said, “Before going to a brokerage office, I wanted to confirm whether it was a registered office and if the assistant broker belonged there, but it was uncomfortable to ask. Using the Safe Real Estate Brokerage Service, I can know the brokerage office and employee information before visiting, which gives me peace of mind.”

In July, the district held a meeting with the Yongsan branch of the Korea Association of Realtors to introduce the service and received recommendations for offices to film VR videos by neighborhood. In August, based on a database including 360° VR videos of real estate brokerage offices and location information (POI), the metaverse platform was built in September.

Seongjanghyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “Starting with the Yongsan-gu Safe Real Estate Brokerage Service, we aim to take the lead in developing non-face-to-face administrative services. The Smart City Idea Contest, which started last Monday, is expected to help expand the scope of non-face-to-face administrative services.”

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