Sokcho Accelerates as AI Administrative Leader... Hosts Competition for All Employees

Building the 'Sokcho City AI Administrative Standard Reference' Based on Competition Achievements
City Advances Data Analysis Through Collaboration with Expert Organizations... Selected as an Excellent Institution for Data-Driven Administration

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province is accelerating its leap forward as an 'AI Administrative Leading City' by integrating AI and big data across all areas of municipal administration, building on the achievements it has made so far.

'AI Administrative Leading City' Competition Poster. Provided by Sokcho City

Since last year, the city has introduced AI into its administrative work, continuously producing a series of administrative innovation outcomes. These achievements have been recognized by central government agencies, with Sokcho being selected as an 'Excellent Institution' in data-driven administration evaluations. Among local governments nationwide, Sokcho is leading the way in AI administration at the fastest pace.

In particular, through collaboration with private sector experts such as KT Corporation, Korea University Digital Innovation Research Center, and KB Kookmin Card, Sokcho has adopted a data-driven administrative model that precisely analyzes key local events, tourism, and the regional economy, thereby enhancing the quality of its policies. A prominent example is the quantitative analysis of the economic impact of the 'Psy Drenched Show' held last summer, using card transaction data, floating population, and accommodation statistics. This case is regarded as a representative success story of big data analysis at the local level.

Sokcho City has moved beyond a resident population-centered approach and established a decision-making system based on the living population by utilizing data from credit card companies and telecommunications providers. By analyzing peak times, regions, and movement patterns, the city has achieved optimal allocation of personnel and budgets across various administrative sectors, including transportation, tourism, safety, sanitation, and park management. This data-driven approach reflects Sokcho's seasonal and tourism characteristics, contributing to a higher quality of administrative services as perceived by both residents and visitors.

Additionally, in the second half of last year, Sokcho established a ChatGPT 4.0 environment accessible to all employees. The city has since conducted 12 basic and practical training sessions, organized an AI club (25 members), held regular seminars and expert lectures, provided practical internal training, offered six hours of offline hands-on education, and arranged benchmarking visits to advanced AI sites, thereby systematically strengthening internal AI capabilities. On December 22, Sokcho plans to visit AI companies and centers in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions to experience generative AI services, work automation solutions, and data analytics platforms, aiming to discover innovative models.

To further expand these achievements throughout city administration, Sokcho City is hosting the 'Sokcho City AI Competition (SOKCHO AI Challenge)' until December 12. This competition is a practical event in which public officials apply AI to real work tasks and present solutions. It focuses on four areas: document/report advancement, automation of civil complaint responses and FAQs, summarization/table processing/dashboard generation, and AI-based promotional content creation. Entries will be evaluated on eight criteria, including AI understanding, creativity, and administrative relevance. Outstanding participants will receive prize money and opportunities to visit advanced AI sites.

This competition is not simply a call for ideas, but a core step toward establishing a standard AI administrative reference that all Sokcho City departments will use starting next year. Outstanding submissions will be compiled into work manuals and casebooks and distributed to all departments.

Lee Byungseon, Mayor of Sokcho City, stated, "Sokcho has been the fastest city to realize a new administrative model combining AI and big data since last year. Concrete achievements are already visible, such as the economic impact analysis of the Psy Drenched Show, living population-based administration, and the adoption of ChatGPT for all employees."

He added, "This AI competition serves as a practical platform for public officials to discover their own ways of utilizing AI and will provide the foundation for delivering accurate and prompt administrative services that citizens can truly feel."

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