Seongnam City Wins Silver at the World’s Most Prestigious Livable City Awards
Achieves Highest Honor in the LivCom Awards “Technology and Solutions” Category
Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor: Shin Sangjin) announced on the 24th that it won the silver award in the Technology and Solutions category at the finals of the LivCom Awards 2025, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 21st.
Employees of Seongnam City's 4th Industrial Division are taking a commemorative photo after winning the Silver Award in the Technology and Solutions category at the LivCom Awards 2025 finals held in Istanbul, Turkey, on the 21st. Provided by Seongnam City
The LivCom Awards, established in 1997, are the world’s most prestigious “International Awards for Livable Communities,” co-hosted by international organizations such as the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD) and UNESCO’s International Centre for Human Sciences. Also known as the “Green Oscar,” this competition evaluates the innovation and best practices of local governments worldwide. This year, 300 cities competed fiercely for the honor.
Seongnam City became the first Korean city to advance to the finals in the Technology and Solutions category with its Human-Centered Mobility as a Service (MaaS) project, ultimately winning the silver award. As no city received the gold award in this category, Seongnam’s silver award is effectively the highest honor.
This achievement was recognized as a leading example demonstrating how technological innovation can improve citizens’ quality of life. The LivCom committee commented, “Seongnam City has realized the vision of a truly human-centered smart city by organically integrating technology, culture, people, and the environment.”
The “Human-Centered MaaS” project received high praise for its inclusive design, which enables everyone to access mobility, culture, and the environment equitably. Key features include the creation of pedestrian-friendly city infrastructure, the convergence of cultural heritage and autonomous driving technology, the establishment of eco-cultural bicycle paths, the operation of an integrated mobility platform, and the transformation of transportation hubs into cultural spaces. In particular, the operation of autonomous shuttle services, the development of Nubigil and Barefoot Loess Trails, and the organization of cultural performances at transportation hubs were highlighted as innovative cases where technology, people, and local heritage are harmoniously integrated.
Following its grand prize in the mobility category at the World Smart City Awards on November 5, Seongnam City has once again been recognized at the LivCom Awards-an international competition accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This marks the greatest international achievement in Seongnam’s 52-year history and further solidifies its status as Korea’s leading innovative city.
Mayor Shin Sangjin stated, “This award is an accomplishment created by all Seongnam citizens together,” and added, “Believing that technology must exist for humanity, we will continue to build a city where everyone can move freely and enjoy culture and nature equitably.”
Building on this achievement, Seongnam City plans to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with cities around the world and focus on spreading a sustainable and inclusive future city model. Additionally, the city will accelerate its efforts to realize the vision of a ‘Global Living City,’ where technology and culture, people and nature coexist in harmony, with a focus on eco-friendly transportation, digital inclusion, and the convergence of culture and technology.
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