Government opens a contest to select local bases for nationwide smartification

The smartification of cities across the country will be promoted in Korea, starting next year.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister Roh, Hyung-wook) announced that it will start building "local base smart cities" from next year to promote smartification of cities across the country.

Starting next year, four cities will be selected every year and 16 locations will be selected by 2025, and up to 24 billion won will be invested by the government and local governments over three years (within 50% of state funds).

According to the plan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled a public offering plan to select cities for next year and will select four locations by the end of this year after receiving a business plan from local governments in early December.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport aims to redesign the urban spatial structure and promote the smartification of urban services. Also, it aims to revitalize the local economy and create jobs in the region by supporting the growth and activities of Cities-based companies.

It is determined to promote fundamental changes in the city by creating a smart city that comprehensively combines urban infrastructure, spatial structure, urban planning, and urban operation, as well as solutions such as individual technologies and services to solve the problems.

Accordingly, in order to be selected as a "local base smart city", local governments should derive regional customized solutions in consideration of local conditions and urban problems, and establish space plans and service plans to introduce new urban infrastructure.

This is because the government has consistently followed the principle that urban operations should be carried out more systematically and scientifically, such as establishing city plans and providing services tailored to citizens' needs and urban environments based on data collected from various sensors.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also clear that its plan has to create an innovative space that attracts related industries and companies and allows talent to flow in through smart cities based in the region.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will actively support corporate activities by designating "local base smart cities" as innovative growth promotion zones and applying regulatory sandboxes.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also made it clear that the creation of a smart city for regional bases should not be led by the central government, but by companies and local residents.

The government expects that if companies participate in the creation of a "local base smart city" with local governments to discover various business models using smart city technology, it will contribute to the nationwide spread of smart cities and overseas exports.

The local base smart city for next year will be selected in December, and after the selection, an implementation plan will be established with the project launch next year.

Meanwhile, local governments and companies wishing to participate in the contest can check detailed public offering plans on the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's website (www.molit.go.kr) or the Smart City General Portal website (smartcity.go.kr).

Reported by Smart City Today