Gwangmyeong City Tackles Both 'Traditional Market Fires' and 'Senior Solitary Deaths' with AI Technology

Gwangmyeong City, Sleno, and Local Traditional Markets Sign Four-Party MOU
500 AIoT Terminals to Be Installed in Gwangmyeong Traditional Market and Saemaul Market
Mayor Seungwon Park: "Merchants Will Have Peace of Mind, Citizens Will Enjoy Visiting the Market"
City Launches Full-Scale Operation of AI-Based Smart Safety and Welfare Infrastructure

Gwangmyeong City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Seungwon Park) is taking full-scale action to resolve chronic fire safety concerns in traditional markets and create a safer market environment by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Seungwon Park, Mayor of Gwangmyeong City (second from left), signed a four-party business agreement on the 24th in the city hall video conference room to promote the "Smart City Regulatory Sandbox Demonstration Project" with Donghui Shin, CEO of Sleno Co., Ltd., the project executor (third from left), Hangki Lee, Chairman of Gwangmyeong Traditional Market, the project site (far right), and Deokbae Jeon, President of Gwangmyeong Saemaeul Market. They took a commemorative photo together. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

On March 24, at the city hall's video conference room, the city signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the "Smart City Regulatory Sandbox Demonstration Project" with Sleno Co., Ltd. (CEO Donghwi Shin) as the project executing agency, Gwangmyeong Traditional Market (Chairman Hanggi Lee), and Gwangmyeong Saemaul Market (President Deokbae Jeon).

Under this agreement, Gwangmyeong City will invest a total budget of 630 million won, including 450 million won from national funds, while Sleno Co., Ltd. will establish an AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) network-based fire prevention and response system infrastructure at both Gwangmyeong Traditional Market and Gwangmyeong Saemaul Market. The traditional markets have agreed to actively cooperate in building the on-site infrastructure to ensure smooth installation of the system.

The core of this project is to build a "24-hour smart fire monitoring network" using AIoT technology.

Five hundred AIoT integrated terminals installed in the stores will use sensors to collect data on heat, smoke, gas, and air quality related to fire. Artificial intelligence will analyze this data in real time to detect even the possibility of a fire in advance.

While existing fire detectors in traditional markets notify only after a fire has started, based on detection of heat or smoke above a certain threshold, the new system uses artificial intelligence to detect minute changes in data, allowing it to provide early warnings of abnormal signs before an accident occurs.

This is significant because it overcomes the limitations of the conventional "post-incident response" system and establishes a fire safety framework focused on "prevention."

Furthermore, the installed detectors will not only sense fire indicators but also monitor indoor air quality and facility displacement, enabling comprehensive management of market safety conditions.

If a terminal detects an abnormal situation, the information is immediately sent to a disaster response server. The transmitted data is then relayed in real time via a dedicated app to city officials, market managers, and store owners, enabling immediate action in emergency situations.

The city plans to review the applicability of this technology based on the results of this demonstration project and to gradually strengthen its safety response system.

Mayor Seungwon Park stated, "Because traditional markets have densely packed stores, the risk of major incidents in the event of a fire is high. We aim to fundamentally transform the safety systems of traditional markets using advanced technology. Through this project, merchants will be able to focus on their work with peace of mind, and citizens can enjoy visiting the nation's safest traditional markets."

Director Haekyung Park (right), Director of the Social Welfare Bureau, is taking a commemorative photo after signing the "Waflet AI Safety Care Project Business Agreement" with Sunyoung Hwang, CEO of NHN Waflet Co., Ltd., on the 24th at the Director's office of the Social Welfare Bureau. Provided by Gwangmyeong City

'Smartphones Check In and Emergency Dispatches... Gwangmyeong City Introduces 'AI Safe Care' for Seniors

Gwangmyeong City (Mayor Seungwon Park) is introducing an "AI Safe Care" service that allows real-time check-ins on seniors' well-being using just a smartphone app, without the need for any separate device installation costs.

On March 24, the city signed a "Waflet AI Safe Care Business Agreement" with NHN Waflet Co., Ltd. at the office of the Director of Social Welfare, launching a smart care system to prevent solitary deaths among seniors.

The core of this project is to overcome the limitations of manpower-based care by using a smartphone app for 24-hour continuous monitoring. Artificial intelligence (AI) reviews the smartphone usage data to detect and respond quickly to crisis situations.

Under the agreement, Gwangmyeong City will select and manage 50 seniors aged 65 or older at risk of isolation through a survey on socially isolated households, while NHN Waflet Co., Ltd. will be responsible for operating the AI-based care service and providing technical support.

The main services include: ▲ 24-hour monitoring based on phone movement ▲ AI automated check-in calls to monitor health status ▲ customized health management features such as medication reminders and checks for cardiovascular health and stress.

In particular, if no phone usage or movement is detected for more than 48 hours, the system is immediately linked to the control center, triggering an emergency response team to be dispatched to the site, which is expected to be highly effective in preventing solitary deaths.

Most importantly, as an app-based service that requires no additional device purchases or installations, it achieves both budget savings and improved administrative efficiency.

While the conventional IoT device installation method costs about 360,000 won per person for two years, this project reduces the cost burden to around 330,000 won, even including the emergency dispatch service.

The service will undergo a pilot operation this month and is scheduled to launch in April.

Director of Social Welfare Haekyung Park said, "With data-driven smart administration, we will eliminate blind spots for solitary deaths and further strengthen the community safety net. We will systematically manage high-risk groups for loneliness and isolation by connecting various smart welfare projects."

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