Incheon City Utilizes AI for Urban Planning for the First Time in Korea... Reduces Time and Costs

The city of Incheon announced on September 23 that it has significantly reduced the time and costs required to establish its "2045 Urban Master Plan Strategic Plan" by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for the first time.

The city independently developed an AI-based planning tool that combines deep learning and large language models (LLM), applying it to data analysis, the development of strategic alternatives, and scenario reviews. Afterward, expert opinions were incorporated to complete the strategic plan. This achievement is being recognized as the first case in South Korea where AI has been applied in practical urban planning work.

In particular, the city explained that the significance of this achievement lies in the fact that AI did not replace experts; rather, AI handled repetitive and large-scale tasks, while the scope and depth of expert involvement were further expanded, thereby enhancing the completeness of the strategic plan.

Incheon City Hall

Additionally, the use of AI resulted in a reduction of approximately 93.5% in planning time and about 88.2% in costs compared to traditional methods. The city also plans to introduce an AI-based citizen feedback and analysis platform in the future.

Meanwhile, while there have been cases overseas where AI is used for certain aspects of urban planning-such as data analysis, simulations, and citizen participation-it is reportedly difficult to find official cases, even in academic reports from the United States and Europe, where a local government has fully utilized AI to establish a statutory urban master plan as Incheon has done.

An official from Incheon City stated, "It is internationally noteworthy that we have established a collaborative model combining the efficiency and creativity of AI, with experts and citizens taking the lead." The official added, "We will continue to effectively apply AI to the '2045 Incheon Urban Master Plan and Living Area Plan' to realize innovations that citizens can experience in their daily lives."