Seoul and Gyeongsangbuk-do collaborates for the establishment of "Metaverse"

While the Seoul Metropolitan Government is gradually establishing a metaverse in administrative services in all areas of the city, it has started to create a new collaboration model through cooperation with other local governments.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 18th that it has concluded the 'Seoul City - Gyeongsangbuk-do Metaverse Business Agreement' with Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Governor Lee Chul-woo of Gyeongbuk Province attending Seoul City Hall. This is the first time that a business agreement between local governments in the field of metaverse will be held, such as finding joint tasks and developing services by sector.

Seoul and Gyeongsangbuk-do will proactively provide various public services that can improve the quality of citizens’ life through metaverse, which has emerged as the next-generation platform of the digital exchange era and maximize policy and administrative synergy, which is called 'digital new continent' and will lead the era of metaverse that is emerging rapidly in all fields such as society, economy and industry.

Seoul and Gyeongsangbuk-do will cooperate in five areas through this business agreement. It is a continuous exchange and cooperation such as ① Mutual sharing of metaverse business and technology promotion cooperation to lead the exemplary metaverse era ② Policy discovery and collaboration projects using metaverse in each field such as talent, industry, culture, and tourism ③ Half-yearly Seoul & Gyeongbuk Metaverse Collaboration Conference ④ Support for private-sector exchanges such as local metaverse companies, institutions, and universities ⑤ Establishment of 'Seoul & Gyeongbuk Metaverse Alliance', a cooperative for the successful promotion of collaboration model.

In October last year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government prepared the Seoul New World, Metaverse Seoul Basic Plan, the first mid-to-long-term comprehensive plan for metaverse in the nation. By 2025, the city plans to step up metaverse services in all areas of municipal administration, from the economy, culture, tourism, education, and civil affairs.

As a first-phase project this year, Seoul City Hall and Seoul Plaza, the gateway to Metaverse Seoul Service, will be composed of main maps to promote the plan and create a space for civic experience activities.

In connection with the online education platform "Seoul Learn," an avatar virtual counseling room will also be established where learning concerns of the youth can be consulted with mentors.

In addition, it plans to provide a service that applies for various certificate documents such as a copy of resident registration in the Metaverse space and issues them through the "Seoul Wallet App," and also organizes the Metaverse 120 Center to provide real-time chat counseling.

Moreover, "Metaverse Seoul Fintech Lab" to promote companies and boost investment, and "Metaverse Tax Square," which allows local tax counseling and expected tax inquiries, will be introduced step by step.

On the other hand, under the theme of 'Again Korea! Under the goal of Metaverse Capital Gyeongsangbuk-do’, the local government presented 20 major tasks in four areas: fostering metaverse manpower, nurturing metaverse industry, promoting metaverse culture and tourism, and creating a metaverse specialized service zone.

Also, the municipal government is speeding up the exchange of local governments through metaverses, such as the launch of the Meta-Gyeongbuk Policy Advisory Group and the announcement of the Metaverse Capital Gyeongbuk Vision.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, "If we proactively provide metaverse services in a new digital environment, we expect not only to improve the quality of life of Seoul citizens and Gyeongsangbuk-do residents, and in the near future, we expect to lead the era of Metaverse, a digital new continent."

Lee Chul-woo, governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, said, "In the future, we will go to the Metaverse era. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Gyeongsangbuk-do will work together to open new doors through Metaverse and lead the future."

Reported by Smart City Today 스마트시티투데이