Busan Urban Corporation Hosts 'BOOKmorning' on the Future Direction of Smart Cities

Special Lecture by Kim Ikhoe, Director of Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements

'Latest Trends and Future Challenges of Smart Cities'

Busan Metropolitan Corporation (BMC, President Kim Yonghak) held the learning meeting 'Smart BOOK Morning' on the 24th to promote the development of a smart city and an airport complex city.

Smart BOOK Morning is a study group held on the last Wednesday of every month from 7:30 to 9:00 AM, dedicated to research on the future of Busan, including smart cities and airport complex cities. It began in June 2022 with a lecture by President Kim Yonghak and has continued for two years.

More than 40 executives, employees, and representatives from various institutions attend the monthly event, where they listen to lectures on diverse topics, engage in discussions, and enhance their professional capabilities.

Busan Urban Corporation is conducting the Smart BOOK Morning lecture.

This event featured a special lecture by Kim Ikhoe, Head of the Smart City and Disaster Prevention Research Center at the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, on the theme of "The Future Direction of Smart Cities in Korea."

Kim Ikhoe holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Geography Education from Seoul National University, a doctorate in Geography from San Diego State University and the University of California, and previously served as a senior researcher at the National University of Singapore.

Director Kim shared the evolution and progress of smart cities and presented directions for future development.

He emphasized the importance of a 'Smart City Integrated Platform,' which collects and manages various types of information to provide services and enable real-time city management.

He also proposed the 'Smart Village,' a national pilot project featuring a sustainable spatial model centered on renewable energy and cities utilizing AI and data, as a countermeasure to regional decline caused by the climate crisis and aging population.

He further argued that, freed from regulations, even more innovative smart city designs and pilot projects are required. Attendees continued discussions on what Busan should prioritize and the direction it should take to become a leading smart city.

Kim Yonghak, President of Busan Metropolitan Corporation, said, "We have conducted in-depth research and contemplation on smart cities for a long time. This lecture was a great opportunity to learn about the latest trends. I would like to express my gratitude to the Smart BOOK Morning members who have continuously developed and researched over the past two years, and I hope we will continue to study together for the future of Busan with a forward-looking attitude."

Busan Urban Corporation is holding the 23rd SmartBOOK Morning event and taking a commemorative photo.