[Interview] Jung Won-oh, Seongdong District Mayor: "Smart Technology Plays a Major Role Even in the COVID-19 Crisis"

Eradicating False Registry Creation, Introducing ‘Mobile Electronic Registry’ Using NFC Technology in Karaoke and PC Rooms... Entry After On-Site Authentication with NFC Tags and QR Codes... Distributing ‘Shoe Insoles’ Embedded with ‘GPS Tracking Technology’ to Prevent Missing Dementia Seniors and Developmentally Disabled... AI Care Services in the Untact Era, Happiness Community Project Using AI Speakers Gains Attention

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] “As soon as we learned that many of the entry logs at entertainment establishments such as Itaewon clubs were falsified, we collaborated with a specialized company to discuss countermeasures applying smart technologies like Near Field Communication (NFC), which led to the creation of the ‘mobile electronic entry log.’”

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong District, explained to reporters that the ‘mobile electronic entry log’ is a balanced solution considering the responsibilities of local community quarantine officials to block COVID-19 transmission, protect individual privacy, and the perspectives of business owners.

‘Smart Inclusive City Seongdong,’ which has been showcasing pioneering benchmarking cases by applying advanced technology to administrative services, has also introduced an innovative case in response to COVID-19.

On the 15th, the district piloted the mobile electronic entry log at four karaoke rooms and two PC rooms within the area. When visitors enter karaoke rooms or PC rooms, they simply hold their mobile phones near a sign posted at the entrance, and through NFC tags or QR codes, they are immediately authenticated and checked for fever and respiratory symptoms. The entire process takes less than a minute. It is also convenient that once authenticated for the first time, the system automatically verifies the user when entering other establishments.

Mayor Jung said, “When a confirmed case occurs, the status of the confirmed patient and visitors at the same time is provided to the district office, enabling rapid use for epidemiological investigations. If a person who visited the same place at the same time as a confirmed patient tries to enter another location, an access restriction message appears, reducing the risk of potential transmission.”

The district plans to expand the system fully to performance venues, entertainment establishments, and sports facilities after reflecting on issues and improvements identified during the pilot operation mainly targeting karaoke rooms and PC rooms frequented by younger people.

Business owners have responded positively. One owner participating in the pilot said, “With handwritten logs, there was no way to verify if they were falsified, and sharing writing tools among many people was also a concern. Using the electronic entry log reduces infection risk and ensures reliable identity verification from a business perspective, making it safer.”

This is not the only pioneering model created by applying smart technology. Recently, the district developed and distributed a GPS-enabled shoe insole called ‘Smart Insole’ to prevent the disappearance of elderly dementia patients and people with developmental disabilities. This idea was inspired by the fact that elderly dementia patients may leave behind other belongings but usually wear their shoes when going out. If the wearer leaves a designated safe zone, an emergency alarm sounds at the ‘Seongdong Smart City Integrated Operation Center,’ and 3,181 CCTV cameras identify the wearer’s location through the insole’s tracking information, immediately linking with the police station for emergency rescue.

Caregivers can install an app (APP) to check the wearer’s movement routes and activity range at any time.

Mayor Jung stated, “This will be established as the ‘Seongdong-type Wandering Prevention System,’ ensuring the safety of elderly people, families of dementia patients, and families of people with disabilities.”

In the untact era brought on by COVID-19, the AI care service ‘Happy Community Project,’ launched last April through an agreement between Seongdong District and SK Telecom, is also receiving renewed attention. AI speakers were installed in 500 households, including elderly living alone, and when the elderly shout phrases like ‘Help me,’ the system recognizes it as an emergency, automatically transmitting the alert to the Happy Community Center located in Seongsu-dong and connecting to relevant agencies. This service has played a significant role in alleviating loneliness and carefully caring for the mental health of elderly people experiencing ‘corona blues’ due to prolonged social distancing.

The unmanned health management booth ‘U-Health Zone,’ installed at Seongsu Health Center last April, is also popular as a health management service using information and communication technology (ICT). Residents who find it difficult to visit hospitals can drop by anytime to measure their health status, and results such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, along with customized health guides, are sent in real time to their smartphones. The goal is to establish a system where people can manage their health independently, including chronic disease prevention and management. Additional booths will be installed at the Seongdong District Health Center in the second half of the year.

Mayor Jung Won-oh said, “Seongdong District’s smart inclusive city policy, which uses advanced technology to solve urban problems and improve quality of life without leaving anyone behind, is playing a significant role even amid the COVID-19 crisis. I hope it spreads as a nationwide model.”