What Seoul wants its smart-city initiative to fix first

Seoul officials have outlined the key areas where they plan to deploy smart-city technologies, based on a survey of 8,531 residents conducted in February 2025. The survey revealed that younger residents prioritized improvements in public transportation, middle-aged citizens focused on parking availability, and older adults emphasized pedestrian safety. The findings were released as the city unveils its long-term strategy for integrating advanced technologies into urban life through 2030. According to the survey results, transportation emerged as the most pressing issue, with 37.5 percent of respondents citing it as their primary concern. Environmental issues came second, accounting for 21.2 percent, while safety concerns were mentioned by 16.2 percent. When asked specifically about where smart technology would be most beneficial, transportation again led the rankings, followed by safety and the environment. Among transportation-related challenges, road congestion was highlighted by 34.2 percent of participants, surpassing concerns about transportation infrastructure and parking. Age played a significant role in shaping priorities. Younger individuals, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, expressed stronger support for enhancing public transportation options. In contrast, residents in their 40s and 50s showed greater interest in addressing parking shortages. Older adults, aged 60 and above, placed higher importance on improving pedestrian conditions and ensuring accessible transportation services for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and disabled. Safety concerns were also prominent, with late-night crime being the top issue, noted by 22.5 percent of respondents. Sexual crimes and child safety during school commutes followed. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions in specific areas of the city. Air quality remained a major environmental concern, with fine dust cited by 29.2 percent of respondents. Other forms of air pollution, including vehicle emissions, were also flagged as critical issues requiring attention. To address these challenges, Seoul has planned to implement a range of technological solutions. These include AI-powered surveillance cameras, autonomous-driving infrastructure, air-purifying drones, and robotic systems for maintaining the Han River. Additionally, the city will utilize digital twins for urban planning and natural-language processing tools to analyze public feedback. These measures aim to create a more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive urban environment. The city’s smart-city initiatives are organized around four main objectives: improving transportation, promoting social inclusion, building climate resilience, and fostering economic growth. Each goal reflects a different aspect of urban life, aiming to enhance both functionality and livability. The survey also highlighted regional disparities in concerns. Residents in southern and western Seoul predominantly identified road congestion as their top transportation problem, whereas those in northeastern Seoul prioritized transportation infrastructure due to less developed rail and transit networks in the area. These insights will guide Seoul’s efforts to integrate technology into daily life, ensuring that the needs of diverse communities are met. As the city moves forward with its 2030 vision, ongoing engagement with residents will remain crucial to refining and adapting its strategies. The implementation of new technologies will continue to evolve, driven by real-time data and community input.