Proactive Response to Child Safety Risks... Reduction in Traffic Accidents
Learning and Playing with AI
Hwaseong City to Showcase AI Policies at 'MARS 2025'
The integrated control center in Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, operates approximately 12,500 CCTVs that serve as the "eyes of the city." These surveillance cameras act as sentinels, detecting risk factors throughout the city, which spans 700.6 square kilometers?1.4 times the size of Seoul?to safeguard public safety.
Previously, control staff had to monitor these cameras manually, but since last year, the introduction of an artificial intelligence (AI) video surveillance system has made the process much smarter. When the system detects a dangerous situation in key areas such as child protection zones or densely populated locations, it immediately notifies control staff, enabling rapid response.
Proactive Response to Child Safety Risks... Reduction in Traffic Accidents
AI video surveillance system introduced by Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province, at the integrated control center. The AI analyzes approximately 12,500 CCTVs to detect risk factors in key areas such as child protection zones. Provided by Hwaseong City
A city official explained, "The AI video surveillance system has greatly improved both monitoring efficiency and safety response capabilities. In particular, it has produced tangible results for child safety by enabling early detection and proactive response to crimes or accidents involving children."
Since 2023, the city has also been operating an "AI Safe Driving Solution" on public buses to enhance the safety of children's commuting environments. This solution uses AI-based video recognition technology to detect and analyze risk factors in real time, such as failure to maintain a safe distance, risk of frontal collision, and unauthorized lane departure during vehicle operation. Based on this data, the city provides customized training for drivers.
The introduction of the solution has led to improved safe driving indicators among drivers. According to the city’s analysis, the number of traffic accidents has decreased by 53% compared to before the solution was implemented, and the number of risky driving incidents per 100 kilometers driven has also dropped by 0.9 cases.
Building on these achievements, the city received the Minister of the Interior and Safety Award in the public institution innovation category at the Korea Local Government Management Competition last year. Hwaseong City also won the grand prize in the city bus category at the Best Green Driver Competition hosted by the Korea Road Traffic Authority last year.
Learning and Playing with AI
Children are attending classes at the school complex facility 'Songrin Ieumteo' prepared by Hwaseong City, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hwaseong City
The city is also actively incorporating AI into children's education.
This year, the city operated the "Hwaseong Dagachi AI Growth School" at "Ieumteo," a school complex facility that serves as a regional learning hub. The program, offered at Dongtan Jungang Ieumteo in the eastern region and Songrin Ieumteo in the western region, covers everything from basic courses in software and AI-based coding and robot production to advanced hands-on training using generative AI, drones, and robots. The curriculum is designed to help children understand and utilize AI technology. In August, the city plans to open the "Mamdaero A+ Playground," an AI playground, at the Hwaseong Children’s Culture Center and Dongtan 9-dong Administrative Welfare Center. This space will be a creative convergence area that combines AI technology with play and education, helping children become active participants in the digital world by recognizing problems and imagining solutions on their own.
During the project's implementation, the city formed a planning group that included direct participation from parents and teachers, ensuring that the design of the space and content planning reflected voices from the field. Based on this, the city plans to develop educational content that fosters AI ethics, digital literacy, and independent thinking skills. In addition, the playground at the Hwaseong Children’s Culture Center will focus on exhibitions, experiences, and education, while the playground at the Dongtan 9-dong Administrative Welfare Center will be designed primarily for play, providing specialized functions tailored to each location’s purpose.
Hwaseong City to Showcase AI Policies at 'MARS 2025'
From June 18 to 20, at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, the city will host "MARS 2025 (Mega city A.I Revolution Summit 2025)," an event expected to showcase the AI policies pursued so far and strategies for evolving into an AI-powered future city to both domestic and international audiences. The event will feature participation from 48 organizations, including Amazon, Hyundai Motor Group, Shinsegae, and KAIST, with over 100 booths planned.
For this event, the city is especially preparing a variety of content that will allow children and families to understand and experience AI together. There will also be a diverse array of programs, including AI-related conferences, lectures, and interactive side events.
Jung Myunggeun, Mayor of Hwaseong, stated, "It is the role of the administration and the responsibility of the city to create a world where children are respected as mature individuals and can freely express their talents and imagination. We will make AI both a warm protective fence for children and a friend that helps them develop the ability to think and learn independently, creating a city where technology, education, and culture are harmoniously integrated."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
