"Unique Experiences Become Possible at Lotte World with Ieum5G"

②New Content Experience... Realized with Ieum5G
"Next-Generation Growth Engine... Government Seed Funding and Private Investment"
South Korea Rises to 6th Place in IMD Digital Ranking

Citizens visiting Lotte World Adventure in Songpa-gu, Seoul are enjoying the rides. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

When we were young, many of us have experienced being unable to ride amusement rides due to height restrictions. The situation has changed with the advancement of 5G cutting-edge communication technology. The representative ride of Lotte World, 'Atlantis,' was previously inaccessible to those under 135 cm in height, some disabled individuals, and the elderly due to safety concerns. However, with the Ieum 5G technology, it is now possible to experience riding Atlantis realistically in a motion video theater. This is one of the projects supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT as part of a demonstration project to expand Ieum 5G convergence services, aiming for commercialization by next year. [Related article=Ieum 5G without data interruption has become an essential for growth in the AI era]

The telecommunications service specialist company 'Newzens' obtained the qualification of a licensed telecommunications operator from the Ministry of Science and ICT and participated in this project. While SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus provide commercial 5G networks to general consumers as mobile carriers, Newzens builds Ieum 5G networks used by select customers in specific areas and supplies communication equipment. Ieum 5G is an independent network separate from commercial 5G, offering high speed and security.

The success of the Atlantis 4D experience center heavily depends on communication speed. To feel the thrill like riding a roller coaster, there must be no data delay or interruption. Park Hyung-kwan, head of Newzens' Technology Research Institute, said, "Unlike commercial 5G or Wi-Fi, Ieum 5G can guarantee the desired speed." He added, "Using chairs equipped with vibration sensors and uninterrupted video and audio, it will enable a realistic experience as if actually riding Atlantis." Newzens also plans to build an Ieum 5G network at Daeduk University’s military training experience center to provide military education services based on virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Researchers are working at the HFR Laboratory in Anyang, Gyeonggi, where the Ieum 5G equipment testbed is installed. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Currently, revenue generated from Ieum 5G accounts for only 2% of Newzens' total sales. However, the company is confident that "Ieum 5G will be the next-generation growth engine leading the future telecommunications market." Park said, "Industries adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and robots are increasing, and for that market to establish itself, Ieum 5G infrastructure is essential," adding, "The government is providing initial funding, and the rest is being invested by the private sector."

HFR, a telecommunications equipment company founded in 2000, is also steadily investing in related technology development, supplying total solutions necessary for Ieum 5G networks domestically and internationally. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, which suffered from a large wildfire in Uljin, Gyeongbuk last year, built an Ieum 5G network using HFR’s solutions. Since a private base station was installed inside the nuclear power plant, communication for emergency response became possible even if connections to existing telecom base stations were cut off due to fires or other incidents.

Jung Hae-gwan, head of HFR Group, said, "With a declining population, increasing industrial productivity is important, and foundational technologies centered on the Internet of Things will gain attention." He emphasized, "Ieum 5G technology is essential for realizing advanced industries such as remote surgery and autonomous drones." HFR is leading overseas exports by building 5G specialized networks in Japanese smart offices and railway stations.

The Ministry of Science and ICT is enhancing Korea’s status as a model country for digital innovation through Ieum 5G. In the ‘2023 World Digital Competitiveness Ranking’ released this year by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, Korea ranked 6th out of 64 countries, rising two places from last year. The government announced the 'Korea Digital Strategy' last September, aiming to secure competitiveness in digital technology, industry, and talent, with the goal of reaching 3rd place globally by 2027.