Heungseon-dong in Uijeongbu City Undergoes Complete Transformation from AI Safety Network to 46-Story Redevelopment

[Special Report] Uijeongbu City Unveils 'Our Neighborhood Policy Roadmap: Heungseon-dong Edition'
Safety, Culture, and Growth: Triple Upgrade for Heungseon-dong
Nation's First AI Fire Detection System... Leading the Way as a 'Smart Safe City'
Gyeongmin University Road Revitalization... Urban Innovation in Heungseon-dong Becomes Tangible
Breaking Free from the Old Downtown Framework, Reborn as a 'Smart Living Zone'

On January 13, Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Donggeun) released the 'Our Neighborhood Policy Roadmap: Heungseon-dong Edition,' outlining a future blueprint for Heungseon-dong. This roadmap reflects the city's strong commitment to transforming the old downtown area of Heungseon-dong into a safe and vibrant community, ranging from the introduction of smart safety systems to the improvement of residential environments.

Uijeongbu City, Our Neighborhood Policy Roadmap 'Heungseon-dong Edition'. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Invisible Guardians... A Smart Safety Net Protected by AI and IoT

The most notable change is the safety infrastructure enhanced with digital technology. The city is operating the nation's first 'Smart Urban Safety Network' equipped with AI analytic sensors in the Heungseon Happy Village area.

This system is currently in operation in Heungseon Happy Village, an area with a high concentration of aging homes. When flame wavelength detection sensors and smoke/flame video sensors detect signs of a fire in real time, the relevant information is immediately transmitted to the Smart Urban Safety Network service at the integrated CCTV control center.

119 Multi-Channel Reporting System. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Subsequently, hazardous situations are automatically linked to the National Fire Agency's 119 Multi-Channel Reporting System, allowing for reports not only by phone but also via text, app, and video call simultaneously. With real-time sharing of the situation on site, responders can check the fire location, nearby CCTV footage, and building blueprints even before arriving, significantly improving the speed and accuracy of initial response.

In addition, reflecting the characteristics of the old downtown, Heungseon-dong has implemented the 'Smart Storm Drain Installation Project' to prevent flooding. Selected for a Ministry of the Interior and Safety contest in 2023, this project assigned unique identification plates to over 1,200 storm drains in the area and computerized them by linking with the 'Mulbadi App.'

Baekseokcheon Is Clear, Daily Life Is Enriched... Enhancing Living Infrastructure

Baekseokcheon, a local retreat for residents, completed a major renovation in November 2025.

Baekseokcheon, a stream running through the city center, is beloved as a walking trail for Heungseon-dong residents. However, during the record-breaking torrential rains of 2016 and 2018, natural stone embankments were lost and the walking trail was damaged, highlighting the need to improve river management methods to cope with recurring flood damage.

Through Gyeonggi Province's 'Small-Scale Flood Risk Area Improvement Project,' the city enhanced the flood control functions of the 637-meter section between Baekseok 2 Bridge and Pyeongan Bridge, and seamlessly connected the walking trail, transforming it into a safe riverside space for citizens. This not only strengthened flood safety in the area but also improved the continuity and stability of the walking route.

Baekseokcheon Trail. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Cultural and welfare hubs have also increased. The 'Uijeongbu Memory Storage,' a renovated former Veterans Hall, has become a cultural platform attracting 7,000 visitors annually. Meanwhile, the 'Together Care Center No. 10,' which opened last February, provides customized after-school services for local elementary students and has received strong support from parents.

Redevelopment Momentum for Ganeung District 8... Revitalizing Gyeongmin University Road

Since 2023, a public-private-academic partnership-based urban regeneration project has been underway along Gyeongmin University Road, around 697 Ganeung-dong, improving alley environments, operating management communities, and running resident and youth participation programs in parallel.

During this process, both the pedestrian routes and the shopping district environment of Gyeongmin University Road have been improved. The creation of Gyeongmin Square, alley markets, and youth participation events have laid the foundation for local activities. Even after the project's completion, a structure where local universities, merchants, and residents participate in management has been maintained, continuing urban regeneration centered on Gyeongmin University Road.

Improvement of aging residential areas is also being carried out in stages. The 'Ganeung District 8' area, around 731-1 Ganeung-dong, covering about 81,000 square meters, is planned to be redeveloped into a large-scale apartment complex with 1,198 units in a 46-story building. The district designation will be completed by the end of 2025, with the project committee beginning full-scale activities to accelerate residential environment improvements.

Gyeongmin Square. Provided by Uijeongbu City

Additionally, with the completion of the 'Gyeonggi The Dream Regeneration Project' around Gyeongmin University Road, organized pedestrian pathways and 'Gyeongmin Square' have been established. Even after the project, a structure in which universities, merchants, and residents jointly manage the area has been solidified, laying the groundwork for revitalizing the local economy.

An official from Uijeongbu City stated, "This Heungseon-dong policy roadmap goes beyond simply replacing outdated facilities. It focuses on the 'smartification of safety' and 'improving quality of life' that residents can feel in their daily lives. While preserving the warm values of the old downtown, we will apply advanced technologies such as the AI fire system to create the safest and most livable model of an original downtown in the country."

Meanwhile, the 'Our Neighborhood Policy Roadmap' systematically organizes policies and issues for each of the city's 15 districts to share changes in citizens' lives and strengthen communication with residents. The next edition will feature Nokyang-dong.