Goyang City Resolves Outdoor Business Permits with AI... First Patent from Civil Servant Idea

Goyang City Introduces AI for Automated Outdoor Business Permit Assessment
Administrative Innovation Patent Filed Based on Civil Servant's Idea

Goyang Special City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) announced on December 15 that it has filed a patent application for the "AI-based Automated Determination and Permit Verification System for Outdoor Business Eligibility" (Application No.: 10-2025-0195063).

Exterior view of Goyang Special City Hall. Provided by Goyang Special City.

This is the first case in which an idea discovered through the civil servant AI idea contest has led to a patent application.

This patent covers a technology in which AI automatically analyzes building information, blueprints, and legal standards required for outdoor business permit applications, and then presents whether business operations are possible and what procedures are needed. The system is designed so that AI assists with the complex review process, including legal and ordinance requirements, building structure, restricted area status, and wastewater and septic tank calculations, which previously had to be checked manually by staff.

Furthermore, if implemented as actual software, the system could also automatically identify cases requiring additional review by comparing with similar civil complaints, thereby helping to improve administrative efficiency.

An Youngsun, Director of Planning and Policy, stated, "It is highly significant that an idea from a civil servant, who experiences citizens' inconveniences most closely in the field, has resulted in a patent application," adding, "We will continue to connect outstanding ideas from field officials to policies and technologies, and expand AI-based administrative innovation models going forward."