Seoul Smart City Prize highlights 'inclusivity and innovation'

The Seoul Metropolitan Government's first-ever Seoul Smart City Prize is accepting applications until the end of May.

Eleven awards will be given out to worldwide cities, organizations, businesses and individuals with the best e-governance initiatives that incorporate cutting-edge information and communication technology without leaving society’s underprivileged groups behind.

Co-organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), an international association of global cities pursuing e-governance, the awards will come with several benefits, including opportunities for the winners to pitch their projects in front of large international crowds gathered by the Seoul city government.

Seoul said it will “spare no effort” to support the winning projects through promotional campaigns.

“As the world is adopting more remote and virtual technologies, core digital technologies are gaining dramatic traction,” Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said in an English-language statement.

“Against this backdrop, Seoul is continuing to take new challenges and working hard to leave no one behind.”

Based on the city’s two core values of “inclusivity and innovation,” Oh expressed hope that the new Seoul Smart City Prize would inspire city governments across the world to adopt people-centered digital technologies.

Three will be chosen for the "Tech-InnovaCity Prize" in recognition of their “excellent policies, services and solutions that innovate the city with technologies of the fourth industrial revolution.” Cities, corporations and institutions can apply for this category, but not individuals.

Three will be chosen for the "Human-CentriCity Prize" in recognition of their “excellent policies, services and solutions that consider the socially vulnerable.” Likewise, cities, corporations and institutions can apply for this category, but not individuals.

Two individuals will be selected for the "Leadership Prize" in recognition of their “excellent smart city policies and contribution to their global expansion.”

Three special prizes – one project and two cities – could separately be selected for their efforts in smart city development.

Applications for Seoul Smart City Prize should be submitted by May 31 at www.seoulsmartcityprize.com

After three rounds of evaluations by Korean and international experts, the finalists will be announced on July 31.

The prize ceremony will be held in late September at the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum hosted by Seoul Metropolitan Government at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in eastern Seoul.

The launch of the Seoul Smart City Prize comes as the Seoul city government unveiled its multi-billion won metaverse project earlier this year, called Metaverse Seoul.

Available on Google Play and the Apple Store, Metaverse Seoul allows users to chat, hold meetings, play games, get advice on starting and running businesses, visit famous tourist attractions in Seoul and ask questions about life in the capital to the city’s 120 Dasan Call Center, either on a smartphone or PC tablet.

Over the next five years, the city said it plans to add every administrative service to the platform, allowing Seoul citizens to handle all their tasks in the virtual world.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]