Smart city services that solve urban problems closely tied to residents' lives—such as traffic congestion, urban safety, and environmental management—by using data collected across cities will be expanded.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 12th it will solicit proposals for the "2026 smart city data hub pilot solution discovery project" to identify solutions based on the smart city data hub.
The smart city data hub is a platform that collects, connects, and analyzes various urban information such as transportation, environment, and energy to support data-driven efficient city operations and problem-solving. The pilot solution discovery project that began last year is underway in Ulsan Metropolitan City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, and North Chungcheong Province.
This call targets local governments where a smart city data hub has been established within a metropolitan local government. Cases in which collaboration between metropolitan local governments (including basic local governments) is achieved will receive preference in selection.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to select a total of two local governments through this year's call and provide up to 1 billion won in national funds per site. Project costs will be matched 1-to-1 between national and local funds.
Pilot solutions identified through this project will be released in an open-source (Open Source) format so other local governments can jointly use them.
Applications can be submitted to the Korea Smart City Association from the 21st to the 26th of next month. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) plans to select the final local governments after a preliminary review and written and presentation evaluations.
Before applications, on the 21st of this month, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will also hold an online briefing session for local governments and participating companies.
Kim Yeon-hee, head of the Urban Economy Division at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said, "The use of urban data is becoming a key factor that determines smart city competitiveness," and added, "We hope this call will unearth creative solutions and expand smart city services nationwide that residents can directly feel."