Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to invest 51.3 billion won in creating a “digital safety city” this year. (Image courtesy of Seoul City)
SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — Seoul Metropolitan Government announced plans to invest 51.3 billion won in creating a “digital safety city” this year, with initiatives including the installation of intelligent CCTV systems and expanded public WiFi coverage. The budget represents a 6.3 billion won increase from last year.
The city is accelerating the deployment of AI-powered CCTV systems capable of rapid response to various incidents, including fires, drug-related crimes, and medical emergencies.
Based on big data analysis using nine indicators including crime rates and single-person household ratios, the city will install 1,796 new intelligent CCTV cameras in 449 identified vulnerable areas and upgrade 20,533 existing standard cameras to intelligent systems.
This initiative will increase the proportion of intelligent CCTV cameras in Seoul from 33% at the end of last year to approximately 57% by the end of 2025. The city aims to achieve 100% intelligent CCTV coverage by 2026.
The initiative also includes replacing 3,333 aging CCTV cameras with high-resolution models. Priority will be given to replacing Chinese-made CCTV systems to address security concerns and strengthen safety in vulnerable areas such as alleyways.
The city will expand its intelligent CCTV-based “Missing Person High-Speed Search System” from 12 to 19 districts this year, aimed at securing crucial response time in cases involving missing elderly citizens and children.
To improve public access to information and reduce data usage costs, Seoul will install 280 new public WiFi access points in high-traffic areas and facilities serving digitally vulnerable populations. Additionally, 450 existing units will be upgraded to WiFi 6 or newer technology for faster and more stable connections.
Public WiFi usage in Seoul saw significant growth last year, with annual data consumption reaching 36,449 terabytes (up 52% year-over-year) and user connections totaling 1.29 billion (up 124%). The city estimates these services provided citizens with communication cost savings equivalent to 207.2 billion won.
The city also plans to expand its S-Pole (Smart Pole) program, which helps prevent traffic accidents involving children near schools. Twenty-four new smart poles will be installed across eight districts, adding to the 872 already in place as of late 2024.
“We are implementing cutting-edge technologies such as AI and IoT in our administrative systems,” said Kang Ok-hyun, head of Seoul’s Digital City Bureau. “We will continue to identify and expand new technologies that make citizens’ lives safer and more comfortable.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
