The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on March 24 plans to develop sophisticated three-dimensional maps of traditional markets. (Image courtesy of Seoul city)
SEOUL, March 25 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on March 24 plans to develop sophisticated three-dimensional maps of traditional markets, addressing the long-standing challenge of locating specific vendors in these sprawling commercial spaces that lack the precise addressing systems found in modern buildings.
The initiative, set to be completed by the end of this year, is the first of its kind in South Korea. The project will cover approximately 1,400 shops across nine markets, including enclosed market buildings like Gyeongdong Market and the Seoul Yangnyeongsi Medicine Market, as well as seven street markets in the Cheongnyangni area.
At its core, the project will assign three-dimensional X-Y-Z coordinates to create detailed digital addresses for shops that currently lack specific location identifiers. The resulting digital twin-based 3D map will provide precise location data for both stores and facilities within these traditional markets, covering a total area of 130,000 square meters.
“This advanced three-dimensional spatial information system will revolutionize addressing in Korea’s traditional markets, enhancing both daily convenience and safety for citizens,” said Kang Ok-hyun, head of Seoul’s Digital City Bureau.
The city government is partnering with the Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix Corporation to execute the project. The initiative will begin with a comprehensive survey categorizing markets into enclosed buildings, street markets, and mixed-format locations, mapping not only shop locations but also critical infrastructure such as fire safety equipment, emergency exits, and utility installations.
Using state-of-the-art scanning LIDAR technology with 360-degree cameras, high-precision 3D data will be collected to create detailed maps integrating shop locations and key safety facilities.
To ensure successful implementation, Seoul has established a cooperative framework including nine merchant associations from Cheongnyangni traditional markets, the Dongdaemun-gu district office, and the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve visitor navigation while enabling faster emergency response times during fires or other urgent situations.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
