Pyeongtaek Selected for National Land Ministry Smart City Initiative

[Suwon Ilbo=Correspondent Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek has been selected for the '2021 Smart City Solution Expansion Project' competition, marking the first step toward creating a citizen-focused smart city that leads the future through urban space innovation. The full-scale development of the 'smart city' is expected to begin.

The Smart City Solution Expansion Project is an initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to enhance citizen satisfaction by allowing local governments to select optimized smart city solutions verified for effectiveness through the Smart Challenge Project, targeting local governments across the nation.

In this competition, 90 cities and counties nationwide participated, with Pyeongtaek selected as one of 23 municipalities. The project will receive total funding of 4 billion won (2 billion won in national funds and 2 billion won in local funds).

Based on the results of the 'regional community safety level diagnostic project,' Pyeongtaek plans to deploy smart pole services—an integrated IoT platform featuring smart crosswalks, crime prevention CCTV, and fine dust measuring devices—to 20 designated high-risk areas exposed to traffic accidents and violent crimes.

With this competition selection, the city has secured national funding for the smart sector, following its selection in December last year for the Environment Ministry's 'Smart Green City Project,' bringing it one step closer to realizing its 'smart city' vision. The selection will serve as a catalyst to accelerate the city's smart city development projects.

The city plans to actively participate in the Smart City Challenge Project and Smart Campus Challenge Project led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, while improving existing urban environments. Simultaneously, it will revise smart city ordinances and update Pyeongtaek's smart city master plan in line with the national 'Third Smart City Comprehensive Plan.'

Additionally, the city will expand and promote the application of smart city techniques in large-scale development projects to encourage the establishment of smart infrastructure, ensuring that both existing and new urban areas receive comprehensive smart city infrastructure services.

Pyeongtaek Mayor Jung Jang-seon stated, "Through Pyeongtaek's Smart City Solution Expansion Project, we can now provide citizens with a safe and convenient urban environment." He added, "We will make our utmost efforts to transform Pyeongtaek into a smart city by applying and improving smart city solutions to address the diverse urban challenges facing our city."