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Sejong – creating a South Korean smart city
Sejong – creating a South Korean smart city
Sejong New Town is a development project focusing on the promotion of regional balanced development. The main idea was to relocate some of the official government functions away from Seoul to reduce congestion, as well as to enhance citizens’ wellbeing. The project has a target population of 500,000 by 2030. The area consists of six neighborhoods that house government offices, universities and other research facilities.
The project has three main goals: de-materialism (ie., work-life balance, eco-friendly), de-centralization (ie., sharing, opening up, citizen participation) and smart technologies (ie., AI, IoT). Some of the core features to achieve this strategic direction are described below.
Transportation
Transportation
Plans for shared mobility services include car-sharing, small-size electric vehicles, driverless cars and e-scooters.
Plans for autonomous vehicles include easily recognizable separate lanes, cameras for data collection and operation of autonomous shuttle buses linked to bus rapid transit. Korea’s first autonomous bus service began operating in Sejong in December 2022.
Healthcare
Healthcare
Sejong New Town aims to enhance responses to an emergency, improve survival rates of emergency patients, reduce wait time for first aid, support early detection of serious illnesses and use medical facilities efficiently. The plans outlines how efficient use of IT can improve operation of medical services. Smartphone application will assist to locate the emergency patient, emergency vehicles will be routed along the optimal route and necessary medical supplies can be first sent by drone. Information about the patient will be updated on the way to the hospital via telemedicine system.
The project also attempts to connect all medical centers to share information about their staff availability and waiting times.
Sejong New Town plans to also build a vertical building to rent out to agricultural start up’s that would sell products both offline and online.
Education
Education
Sejong New Town wants to create schools that will enhance creative and critical thinking. School facilities will offer opportunities to experience virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), emerging technologies and robotic arms.
The project also aims to create an environment for lifetime education. The programs will support job seekers, start up’s and those interested in professional development.
Energy
Energy
The entire city will be connected to a power grid that will manage production and consumption of energy. Renewable energy facilities will be installed in public spaces and will support operation of public transport. Individuals will also be encouraged to generate renewable energy that they would be able to sell for a small profit.
The city also plans to build a charging station for hydrogen-powered vehicles that have been manufactured by Korean Hyundai.
Construction companies will be incentivized to build zero-energy buildings. Houses will have food waste treatment machines installed that produce organic fertilizers.
Governance
Governance
Citizen participation is encouraged in planning and city management. Online mobile platform called M-mobile will be built to support public decision making. Citizens will be invited to meetings to identify urban issues, propose solutions and give feedback on public services.
Overall, Sejong New Town demonstrates current thinking of what future smart cities might look like. Its ideas enhance productivity, sustainability and livability.
Korean government hopes to sell the Korean smart city model as an exportable product. It is yet to be seen if Sejong New Town will be fully implemented. Focusing on citizen cooperation and inclusiveness would help it shape state-of-the-art future.
Now let's take a look at the connections between mobile learning and smart communities
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