Suwon Takes First Step Toward Building 'Physical AI-Based Transportation, Disaster Prevention, and Education Hub'
Suwon Special Status City (Mayor Lee Jae-jun) has signed a business agreement with participating organizations of the 'Hub-Type Smart City Development Project' and taken the first step toward creating 'Physical AI-Based Smart City Suwon.'
On the 14th, Suwon City signed a business agreement with eight companies and organizations participating in the hub-type smart city development project consortium at the City Hall conference room, committing to cooperation.
The consortium comprises Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, KEPCO KDN Co., Ltd., Gaon Robotics Co., Ltd., Colosseum Corporation Co., Ltd., CL Mobility Co., Ltd., UK C&P; Co., Ltd., and the Suwon Urban Foundation.
Suwon City was selected in June for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's '2026 Hub-Type Smart City Development Project' competition and will receive up to 16 billion won in national funding over three years. The city will invest a total of 32.8 billion won—16 billion won from national and local budgets and 800 million won from private capital—to complete the project by December 2028.
The 'Smart City Development Project' is a project that utilizes artificial intelligence and smart technology to address various urban problems and support smart city industry activation. The 'Hub-Type Smart City Development Project' for which Suwon City was selected is designed to create a comprehensive demonstration city that can serve as a hub, allowing smart cities to spread nationwide.
Suwon City submitted its application with the subtitle 'Connecting Cities, Moving Lives—Physical Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation Hub Suwon.' The city plans to build and operate physical AI-based smart city services in the areas around Suwon Station, Hwaseo-dong, and Haenggung-dong, and support corporate demonstrations to promote data-driven urban innovation.
By introducing physical artificial intelligence (AI)-based innovative technologies, Suwon will establish four hub centers: △transportation hub, △citizen convenience hub, △safety and disaster prevention hub, and △innovation and education hub.
Suwon City and the eight companies and organizations have agreed to cooperate to successfully promote the project and build and operate smart city services in accordance with the project plan.
Participants in the agreement ceremony included Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, Hyundai Motor Company Executive Director Lee Jae-yong, Kia Corporation Executive Director Kang Ju-yeop, KEPCO KDN Co., Ltd. Division Head Park Jong-hyun, Gaon Robotics Co., Ltd. CEO Lee Jin-seong, Colosseum Corporation Co., Ltd. CEO Park Jin-su, CL Mobility Co., Ltd. CEO Park Moo-yeol, UK C&P; Co., Ltd. CEO Park Chan-ho, and Suwon Urban Foundation Chairman Lee Byung-jin.
Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun stated, "Physical artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart city is one of the futures that Suwon City envisions," and added, "I hope that the demonstration of the hub-type smart city development project will be successfully carried out in Suwon and that the Suwon model will spread to all cities across the nation."