The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on the 7th that it has selected six cities in five countries as finalists for the 'K-City Network 2025 Overseas Demonstration Project' and plans to actively promote local demonstration projects worth 2.3 billion won starting in April.
The K-City Network is an international cooperation project that supports the global market entry of domestic corporations by testing innovative technologies in the smart city sector to match the conditions of overseas cities while simultaneously promoting intergovernmental cooperation.
The cities selected this time include Khon Kaen in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Milan and Verona in Italy, Birmingham in the United Kingdom, and Lima in Peru.
The selected cities face various urban issues, such as traffic congestion, waste collection, citizen safety, and disaster response, and the Ministry explained that domestic corporations will challenge urban problem-solving using cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and the Internet of Things (IoT) by developing tailored smart solutions.
In Khon Kaen, Thailand, a solution that analyzes real-time footage from CCTV installed in urban areas based on AI will support the police's rapid response to abnormal situations such as disasters and crimes by detecting unusual situations in real time.
In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is experiencing severe urban traffic congestion, an AI-based smart parking system that allows users to quickly check available parking spaces through a mobile app will be demonstrated to assist in resolving traffic jams.
In Milan, Italy, to tackle the increasing urban waste problem, intelligent IoT load detection sensors and waste bins with compression functions will be installed throughout the city, demonstrating a smart waste management system that collects waste efficiently through an integrated monitoring platform.
Additionally, in Birmingham, United Kingdom, an AR-based navigation service supporting barrier-free walking for vulnerable road users will be demonstrated; in Verona, Italy, an AI-based smart traffic solution to improve traffic flow will be tested; and in Lima, Peru, a traffic safety solution to prevent traffic accidents will be showcased.
The Ministry anticipates that this demonstration project will directly prove the excellence of Korean smart technologies in overseas markets and spread sustainable urban cooperation models linked to exports.
In particular, through the pilot construction and operation of solutions based on the actual needs of local cities, it aims to verify the effectiveness of technologies owned by domestic corporations and facilitate partnerships with demand sources.
A Ministry official stated, 'In a situation where cities around the world are seeking solutions to complex urban issues such as traffic, environment, and safety, this demonstration project can show that Korean smart city technology can be an alternative' and added, 'We will actively support our corporations' global market entry through this project and strengthen cooperation networks with overseas cities.'