"Free on Roads, Parks, and Markets" ... Seoul City's Public Wi-Fi 'Kkachion' Service Launches

332km of Private Communication Networks and 1,780 Public Wi-Fi Units Added in 5 Districts Including Seongdong and Guro
'Right to Communication' Guaranteed to Prevent Digital Divide from Communication Cost Burden
4x Faster Speeds Across Public Living Areas... Indoor Public Wi-Fi Installed in Welfare Centers

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Free Wi-Fi service will be fully launched in public living areas such as roads with four or more lanes in Seoul, parks, traditional markets, and bus stops. The purpose is to guarantee the basic right to communication universally enjoyed by everyone, so that citizens' communication costs do not lead to digital exclusion or disparity.

Seoul City announced on the 26th that starting November 1st, it will sequentially begin the pilot service of Seoul's public Wi-Fi 'Kkachion' in five autonomous districts, beginning with Seongdong-gu and Guro-gu, followed by Eunpyeong-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Dobong-gu by mid-November.

In these areas, users can turn on the Wi-Fi function on their smartphones and select 'SEOUL' for general (open) access. For secure access, select the Wi-Fi identifier (SSID) 'SEOUL_Secure' and enter 'seoul' for both the ID and password. Once set up for the first time, Kkachion will automatically connect wherever it is installed without needing to reconnect at each location.

The city is promoting the 'Smart Seoul Network (S-Net)' project, which will lay a total of 5,954 km of its own ultra-high-speed public private communication network throughout Seoul by 2022. Based on this, it plans to build 11,030 Kkachion units and 1,000 public Internet of Things (IoT) networks. This will establish a smart city infrastructure for implementing fourth industrial revolution technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), IoT, security, and 3D mapping. Additionally, by using its own network instead of leasing lines from mobile carriers, it is expected to reduce communication costs.

Kkachion will be installed throughout public living areas including major roads, traditional markets, parks, rivers, walking trails, cultural and sports facilities, and areas around historic sites. This covers about 11% of Seoul’s total area, including green spaces and rivers, but excludes residential areas and private buildings. The latest 'Wi-Fi 6' equipment, which is four times faster and more secure than existing public Wi-Fi, will be introduced.

Separately from public living areas, the city will also install indoor public Wi-Fi in welfare facilities and local community centers frequently used by information-vulnerable groups to reduce the digital divide among the elderly and others.

Furthermore, a 'Public Wi-Fi Integrated Management Center' will be established within the Smart Seoul CCTV Safety Center (Esplex Center in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu) to centrally manage Kkachion across Seoul. This will unify the currently fragmented public Wi-Fi management systems across different institutions for systematic management.

However, the Ministry of Science and ICT interprets that local governments directly operating telecommunications services is illegal under the Telecommunications Business Act, so legislative supplementation and consensus are needed.

Lee Won-mok, Seoul City’s Smart City Policy Officer, said, "Since the spread of COVID-19, online and non-face-to-face services have become routine in society, making communication an essential public utility in daily life. This project is both a policy to resolve the communication gap mandated by the National Informatization Basic Act and the Broadcasting and Communications Development Basic Act for the state and local governments, and aligns with the government’s Digital New Deal. Therefore, we will establish a close discussion system and cooperate with the Ministry of Science and ICT."