The government will pilot Smart City technologies overseas that use artificial intelligence (AI) to solve urban problems such as traffic congestion and disaster response, and support the overseas expansion of domestic corporations.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 13th that it has finally selected six projects in five countries to apply and verify a Korea-style AI-based Smart City model overseas through the 2026 K-City Network overseas demonstration-type project call.
The K-City Network applies a Korea-style Smart City model to overseas cities based on intergovernmental cooperation and supports Smart City master planning and overseas demonstrations of domestic smart solutions.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) selected outstanding projects by comprehensively considering technological innovativeness, commercialization potential, and ripple effects for overseas expansion among a total of 34 projects submitted to this call.
The selected projects aim to build an intelligent urban operating system that combines artificial intelligence (AI) and data technology to analyze and respond to problems autonomously.
In Brunei, the project will verify a model that improves both local customized urban water management and disaster response by building and operating an AI-based Smart City integrated platform. The expansion of exports by domestic corporations linked to the Brunei government's Smart City projects is also expected.
In Bacoor, the Philippines, the project will build an AI-based smart traffic management platform to analyze real-time traffic conditions and implement signal optimization, verifying effects on easing downtown congestion and improving traffic operation efficiency.
In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the project will introduce an AI- and big data-based demand responsive transport (DRT) service to reduce public transit waiting times and verify the potential to shift to a user-centered, efficient urban transport system.
In Can Tho, Vietnam, the project will combine AI-based incident detection with smart intersection control technology to enhance safety at congested intersections and verify effects on accident prevention and traffic flow improvement.
In Surin, Thailand, the project will demonstrate an integrated safety management solution for aging buildings that combines viscous dampers with AI-based structural safety management technology. Based on this, it aims to serve as a bridgehead for future entry into the Southeast Asian market.
In Penang, Malaysia, the project will build an AI-CCTV-based traffic management system that detects accidents and congestion at intersections in real time and verify the potential for intelligent urban traffic operations.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) expects this demonstration program to verify the local applicability of Korea-style smart technologies and lead to outcomes that connect to follow-up export and investment projects.
Kim Hyo-jung, director general for urban policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), said, "Smart City is now evolving beyond simple infrastructure into an 'intelligent system' in which AI operates the city," and added, "Through this project, we plan to prove on the ground that Korea-style AI urban technologies can contribute to solving real problems in overseas cities and expand them into a city-level export industry."