George Mason University Korea will work with the European Union (EU), major universities in Korea, and local governments to develop a new urban planning model called the "x-minute city." An x-minute city is an urban concept designed so that from a given point, most places needed for daily life are accessible within "x" minutes by walking, bicycle, or public transit.
On the 3rd, according to George Mason University Korea, a research team formed with Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Incheon Metropolitan City, and major European cities and institutions has launched the international joint research project "DUT (Driving Urban Transitions)" aimed at "future-oriented neighborhood unit urban planning."
The study is part of the urban innovation partnerships under Horizon Europe, the EU's large-scale research and innovation program. In Korea, it is supported by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Agency for Infrastructure Technology Advancement (KAIA), with co-funding from the European Commission.
Among the Korean participants, the research team that includes George Mason University Korea secured global funding as the only research-oriented project among the two DUT projects selected in Korea in 2025.
The team will design a customized neighborhood urban model that reflects Incheon's urban structure and residents' living patterns, enabling access to key daily amenities within a set time by walking or public transit.
A citizen-participation approach will be applied in the process. Through GIS-based data analysis, citizen surveys, and neighborhood network analysis, citizens themselves will define the centers and boundaries of their living areas.
Seoul National University will lead the overall project, and George Mason University Korea will be in charge of Agent-Based Urban Modeling. Incheon Metropolitan City will support policy implementation and data, while corporations such as Hyundai Motor and Siteplanning will develop business models for Autonomous Driving and smart mobility.
At George Mason University Korea, Assistant Professor Dakota McCarty of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy is leading the research. McCarty said, "We are now able to advance the recently spotlighted 'x-minute city' concept through an innovative, data-driven methodology," adding, "By comparing and analyzing the structures and living patterns of Korean and Nordic cities, we aim to explore a more sustainable and people-centered urban model."
Joshua K. Park, Dean of George Mason University Korea Campus, said, "This study will contribute not only to realizing Incheon's future urban vision but also to international research collaboration and talent development," adding, "Through cooperation among industry, academia, government, and research, we will also do our part for community development."