Seongsanjin, Mayor of Seongnam, "This Year is the Inaugural Year for AI Global City Leap"

Seongnam City Establishes AI Semiconductor Division with Four Teams
Laying the Foundation for Future Growth Industries

Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Shin Sang-jin) announced on the 17th that it will establish an AI Semiconductor Division to lead future growth industries in line with the rapidly changing artificial intelligence (AI) era.

Seongnam City Hall view. Provided by Seongnam City.

The ‘Partial Amendment to the Seongnam City Administrative Organization and Personnel Ordinance’ containing this plan was passed at the 2nd plenary session of the 300th Seongnam City Council extraordinary meeting held on the same day. The city plans to carry out an organizational restructuring after the ordinance is promulgated.

The newly established AI Semiconductor Division will consist of four teams: △ AI Innovation Team △ Semiconductor Team △ Future Mobility Team △ Spatial Information Team. These teams will be responsible for developing Seongnam City’s core future growth industries such as AI, semiconductors, autonomous driving, and robot delivery. Until the division is established, a temporary ‘AI Semiconductor Division Preparation Promotion Team’ led by the vice mayor will be operated.

Mayor Shin Sang-jin recently declared this year as the ‘First Year of Leap to a Global AI City’ to respond to the global AI hegemony competition, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence into all areas of city administration to promote innovative governance.

Mayor Shin said, “Seongnam City, leading Korea’s advanced industries, will introduce generative AI throughout administration to apply future technologies that citizens can experience and carry out governance that brings innovation to daily life. Through this, we will contribute to Korea’s leap as one of the top three AI powers.”

This year, Seongnam City plans to focus on the groundbreaking of the KAIST Seongnam AI Education and Research Facility and the attraction of a science high school (preliminary designation) to nurture specialized talent with global competitiveness. Additionally, leveraging its strength as the top city in Gyeonggi Province for AI patent filings, the city will collaborate with global companies based in the region such as Naver and Kakao, as well as Carnegie Mellon University, Sungkyunkwan University Bundang Campus Fabless AI Seongnam Research Center, and Sogang University Pangyo Digital Innovation Campus to advance the AI industry ecosystem.

Furthermore, the city will promote the establishment of AI industry support infrastructure, foster specialized personnel and startups, enact related ordinances, and build a legal support system. Centered around Pangyo, it plans to create an AI cluster through industry-academia-research cooperation networks, participate in national public projects, and expand its global network.

Seongnam City plans to introduce generative AI across all departments to automate administrative tasks and improve citizen services, and conduct continuous AI utilization training throughout the year. On the 18th, AI utilization training will be held for about 200 public officials to introduce cases of applying the latest generative AI tools to administrative work and cover AI security and ethical standards.