President Yook Dongil: "AI Technologies Will Be Linked to Public Value and Improved Quality of Life for Residents"

The Korea Research Institute for Local Administration (President Yook Dongil) held the '2026 Korea-China Joint Seminar' in cooperation with the Shanghai Administration Institute at the seminar room of the Shanghai Administration Institute on April 23. The seminar was organized as both institutions, which have continued information and academic exchange on local autonomy since 2001, sought to jointly explore administrative innovation strategies for metropolitan local governments in response to the shared contemporary challenge of the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies.

Yook Dongil, President of the Korea Institute of Local Administration (right), and Luo Feng, Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of Governance, are shaking hands at a joint seminar. Provided by the Korea Institute of Local Administration

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The seminar was conducted under the main theme of "AI and Digital-Based Governance in Metropolitan Cities." Both the Korean and Chinese sides focused on the transformative impact of AI and digital technologies across various aspects of metropolitan administration, sharing and comparing cases related to policy design, administrative operations, public service innovation, data-driven urban management, and blockchain-based industrial and administrative innovation.

In the first Korean presentation, Joo Heejin, Director of the Smart Local Administration Research Center at the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, spoke on "The Transition of AI-Based Urban Governance: Shifting Roles and Government Innovation in the AX (AI Transformation) Era for Local Governments." She explained that the AX era is arriving, in which AI is fundamentally changing not only policy design and decision-making but also the methods of service delivery, going beyond the traditional e-government and data-driven administration to address complex metropolitan issues such as transportation, welfare, environment, and safety.

Next, Hwang Jungyun, Associate Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, gave a presentation titled "Resident-Centric AI Utilization and Local Administration Innovation: Possibilities and Challenges in Metropolitan Governance." She emphasized that local governments' use of AI should be designed in a way that residents can understand, trust, and tangibly benefit from, rather than focusing solely on technology adoption itself. The presentation also addressed both the expected effects of AI, including improved speed and accuracy in administrative processing and customized services, and the concerns and limitations such as data bias, personal data protection, the digital divide, and insufficient technological capabilities.

On the Chinese side, Zhang Feng, Research Fellow at the Shanghai Development Research Institute of the Shanghai Administration Institute, spoke on "Innovative Practices and Fundamental Experiences in the Digitalization of Super-Metropolitan Social Governance in Shanghai." He explained that Shanghai, a super-metropolitan city with a population of 25 million, is transitioning from "experience-based governance" to "data-driven governance," and from "passive response" to "proactive prevention" to address complex urban issues and risks.

Additionally, Li Xiaojing, Research Fellow at the Shanghai Development Research Institute, presented on "Strengthening New Quality Productive Forces Based on Blockchain: Shanghai’s Exploration and Practice," explaining that next-generation information technologies such as AI, big data, and blockchain are now driving core productivity growth.

The Korea Institute of Local Administration held the '2026 Korea-China Joint Seminar' together with the Shanghai Academy of Public Administration. Provided by the Korea Institute of Local Administration

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This seminar was significant in that both Korea and China provided a comprehensive overview of AI-based policy innovation, resident-centric service design, data-driven urban operation, digital platform administration, and blockchain-based industrial and administrative innovation-emerging as shared challenges in metropolitan administration. In particular, both institutions reached a consensus that, in addition to the efficiency of technology adoption, accountability, transparency, resident trust, and institutional foundations are essential for achieving sustainable digital governance.

Yook Dongil, President of the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration, stated, "This Korea-China joint seminar was a meaningful occasion to explore together how AI and digital technologies can be harnessed to promote public value and improve the quality of life for residents in response to the complex administrative demands faced by metropolitan cities. Moving forward, the Korea Research Institute for Local Administration will continue to enhance the AI and digital transformation capabilities of local governments through international policy exchange and cooperation, and will lead future-oriented local administration innovation centered on residents."

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