5 Major Future City Issues 'Population, Climate Change, Resource Circulation, Infrastructure, Epidemics'... Publication of 'Seoul Future Report 2030'

100 Experts from Various Fields and 1,000 Seoul Citizens Predict and Analyze Urban Issues in Seoul 10 Years Later
The Top Priority Value Chosen by Citizens Is a City Where Work-Life Balance Is Possible... Future Key Technology Is Green Energy

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Institute of Technology announced on the 19th that it will publish the "Seoul Future Report 2030," which contains technological tasks and future research content to prepare for Seoul's urban issues 10 years from now, on the 31st.

This report involved over 100 experts from the public, private, and academic sectors, including the Seoul Institute of Technology, over a period of 13 months. To gather opinions and related data, the process included 2 invited lectures, 4 general committee meetings, 43 planning committee meetings, and investigations of 128 types of materials.

The report identified future innovation tasks centered on five major research areas: key urban issues and current status, Seoul future scenarios, urban infrastructure, safety and disaster prevention, living environment, smart city, and climate environment. It also includes a technology policy roadmap for the next 10 years.

Experts pointed to population, climate change, resource circulation, infrastructure, and infectious diseases as the urban problems of the future 10 years from now. In preparing for the future, the essential capabilities Seoul must have were chosen as "improvement of natural living environments such as air and water quality" (81.7 points), followed by "preparing response measures after COVID-19" (81.2 points). The five key technologies expected to drive Seoul's future include green energy, big data analysis, future eco-friendly vehicles, and smart healthcare.

The report also includes the results of a future perception survey conducted with 1,000 Seoul citizens following the experts. The future vision most desired by Seoul citizens was "a city where work-life balance is possible" (21.7%), followed by "a smart city applying advanced technologies" (13.1%). The survey was conducted over five days from September 4 last year and was based on citizens' quality of life and Seoul's sustainable development.

The research report will be published in six volumes: one general report and five volumes covering each research area?urban infrastructure, safety and disaster prevention, living environment, smart city, and climate environment.

Ko In-seok, director of the Seoul Institute of Technology, said, "Although there have been various studies related to future forecasting, research at the individual city level from the citizens' perspective was insufficient, so systematic analysis that can be directly applied to Seoul's administration was needed. We expect the Seoul Future Report 2030 to serve as a mid- to long-term development strategy and a technology policy roadmap to predict and solve Seoul's urban problems."