Goyang Mayor Unveils Smart City Innovations At Summit

Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang City represented his locality at the '2025 Goyang Smart City Summit' held on March 20, 2025, at Kintex, a prominent venue in the region. This event stands out as Asia's largest smart city gathering, uniting urban leaders, tech firms, and experts to share insights on cutting-edge technologies and policies aimed at transforming cities for the better. This year's theme, 'Digital and Green Transformation,' was the focal point for discussions held simultaneously in Taoyuan and Goyang.

During the summit, Lee participated in the Digital Forum session titled 'AI for Urban Enhancement - Opening a New Era through AI'. In his address, he emphasized that the concept of smart cities is no longer a futuristic idea but a crucial aspect of sustainable urban development and enhancing the quality of life for citizens. "Smart cities are no longer a distant future but an essential element for the city's sustainability and quality of life improvement," Lee stated, highlighting Goyang's innovative approaches to urban planning.

Lee elaborated on Goyang City's smart initiatives, particularly the implementation of digital twin technology. Goyang is leveraging this technology to forecast ground subsidence, manage flooding effectively, and even conduct demonstrations related to Urban Air Mobility (UAM). He noted, "Goyang is using digital twin services for predictive administration, flood forecasting, and Urban Air Mobility demonstrations." This comprehensive growth strategy aims to enhance the city's infrastructure and services.

Additionally, Mayor Lee outlined exciting new services being developed, including real-time traffic optimization features that analyze data to mitigate congestion, assess commercial district demands, and predict parking needs. He also mentioned the city's drone delivery service, which rapidly responds to emergencies from strategically located stations. "We are providing traffic optimization services based on real-time data, including traffic analysis, parking congestion detection, and are building a drone delivery service that responds quickly to disasters or accidents from stations located at the shortest distance," he explained.

The summit covered a range of topics beyond technical details, emphasizing global collaboration among smart cities. Following his speech, Mayor Lee toured the exhibition hall at the summit where he explored the latest advancements in AI and digital twin technology integration. This direct engagement allowed him to assess how these technologies could be intertwined with Goyang's strategic approach to smart city development.

In further discussions, Lee's insights resonated with fellow participants, including Yachun Yaskoviac Posen, the mayor of Poznan, Poland, and Charles Lane, the deputy mayor of Goyang. Together, they shared perspectives on the significant societal and infrastructure innovations that AI could bring to urban living. The importance of these technologies was underscored in their panel discussions, fostering a greater understanding of their potential impact on future city landscapes.

In his remarks, Lee reassured attendees and stakeholders that Goyang is firmly dedicated to becoming a model for sustainable urban environments. He stated, "We will continue to innovate as a leading global smart city by utilizing AI and digital twins in various fields to create a sustainable city." This commitment showcases Goyang's readiness to adopt innovative technologies to improve city functions and adhere to sustainability goals.

With these advancements, Goyang City plans to marry innovative technologies and collaborative strategies identified during the summit with local administration practices. The goal is to enhance urban services, streamline public service delivery, optimize energy efficiency, and reimagine transportation systems within the city.

As the summit progresses through March 22, attendees will continue to engage in discussions surrounding the implications of AI in urban environments. Keynote speakers from Europe and Asia have already set the stage for crucial conversations, cementing the summit's position as a landmark event for smart city development.

Through this forum, Goyang is not just participating in the global smart city movement but actively shaping it through its innovative ideas and commitment to technology. City's officials express enthusiasm about reinforcing international cooperative efforts as they work to implement strategies inspired by events like the Smart City Summit.