Seocho District Achieves 86.3% Implementation Rate for Smart Contract Digitalization

Since Last November... 477,000 Sheets of Paper Saved
Significant Savings in Storage Rental Fees and Number of Visits

Seocho District in Seoul has achieved an 86.3% digitalization rate for its "Paperless and Visit-Free Seocho Smart Contract" system, which has been in place since November last year. Over the past five months, the smart contract system has saved approximately 477,000 sheets of paper.

The "Paperless and Visit-Free Seocho Smart Contract" is a system introduced by Seocho District last year to simplify contract procedures and improve administrative efficiency.

Promotional banner for the full-scale implementation of the Seocho Smart Contract. Provided by Seocho District.

Based on last year's contract volume, this translates to an annual savings of 1.16 million sheets of paper (equivalent to 463 boxes of A4 paper) and a reduction of 125 million won in storage rental costs for keeping paper documents.

Seocho District explained that this amount of paper saved is equivalent to planting 671 30-year-old pine trees each year, and also results in an annual reduction of 5,632 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, demonstrating the system's eco-friendly impact.

The number of visits required to submit contract documents to the district office has also decreased significantly. Previously, contractors had to visit both the ordering and contract departments of the district office at least two times, and sometimes as many as seven or eight times, to submit contract documents in person. However, with the implementation of the smart contract system, documents that can be digitized are now exchanged electronically without the need for in-person visits. The district estimates that this has saved approximately 150 million won in costs over the past five months.

In a satisfaction survey conducted by Seocho District regarding the smart contract administration, 88.7% of respondents expressed satisfaction with the system. The main reasons cited were faster processing, time savings, easier document storage and utilization, and reduced carbon emissions (through paper reduction). Additionally, 95.5% of responding companies reported a decrease in the number of visits to the district office. The survey was conducted online over five days starting April 11, targeting a total of 177 participants, including district office staff and companies that signed contracts with the district this year.

Furthermore, staff in the district's ordering departments also reported a significant reduction in the inconvenience of having to visit the contract department with documents previously submitted in person by contractors, as these are now received electronically.

District Mayor Jeon Sungsoo stated, "We will continue to gradually improve the digitalization rate, leading the way in environmentally friendly contract administration while reducing costs."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.