South Korea's Incheon eyes 'smart city' makeover

Incheon city leaders hope to redevelop two areas of the Nam-Gu ward as a “smart city.”

Officials in South Korea’s third-largest city plan to use Cisco’s Smart+Connected Communities program to create blueprints for more technologically advanced and networked neighborhoods in the Ju An 2 and 4 Dong areas of Incheon. Eventually, they hope to build upon the work in Nam-Gu to help ensure balanced development between Incheon’s old and new districts.

Cisco last year signed an agreement with Incheon Metropolitan City a year ago to transform the city’s Free Economic Zone into a high-tech, globally competitive and environmentally sustainable smart and connected city.

The “Smart Nam-Gu” vision targets around 16 blocks in the city’s old downtown area. Cisco plans to develop a master plan for the initiative that recommends changes to both physical infrastructure and city services. The work is expected to be similar to that currently taking place in South Korea’s Songdo International Business District.

“We strongly believe that these smart city initiatives will deliver improved housing, opportunities and quality of life for our residents,” said Woo-Sub Park, director of Nam-Gu Office.