A demonstration of AI-powered analysis of pedestrian traffic in front of Seongsimdang, a landmark in Daejeon (image provided by Daejeon’s Jung District)
DAEJEON, Dec. 12 (Korea Bizwire) — The central district of Daejeon said Thursday it will begin analyzing visitor traffic around Seongsimdang, the city’s landmark bakery that draws more than 10 million visitors a year, using artificial intelligence and LiDAR technology.
The district conducted a public demonstration Wednesday in front of Seongsimdang’s main store in Daeheung-dong with California-based LiDAR company Ouster and Korean AI firm Green AI. A LiDAR sensor installed at the busy intersection scanned its surroundings in 360 degrees, producing real-time data on pedestrian flows and crowd density.
An onboard AI agent automatically generated tailored reports by time and location, displaying congestion patterns and wait times for the bakery, which regularly attracts between 20,000 and 30,000 people a day. Officials said visitors will eventually be able to use accumulated data to determine the least crowded hours to visit.
Sungsimdang’s breads have become items you can only buy by traveling to Daejeon, and the bakery is widely credited with reviving the declining old downtown district, earning strong support from the local community. (Yonhap)
Because the system can track the movement of people and objects within a 100-meter radius simultaneously, the district expects the technology to support commercial-zone analysis, crowd-safety management, and broader urban planning applications.
Daejeon plans to start using the data in the first half of next year to reduce customer wait times and develop revitalization strategies for the city’s older commercial district.
The neighborhood surrounding Seongsimdang, including Eunhaeng and Sunhwa-dong, is currently undergoing a government-backed regeneration project funded with 5.5 billion won, including 4.95 billion won in national support.
The project’s operator, WingWing Co., plans to use Seongsimdang’s bakery culture as a signature content theme, hosting events such as baking competitions and bread-themed pop-ups in underused spaces.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
