Toward Sustainable Smart City: Lessons From 20 Years of Korean Programs

Abstract

South Korea has a long history of the planning, development, and management of smart cities to integrate emerging technological advances into complex physical infrastructure. This article explores lessons learned from smart city programs in South Korea to better understand the challenges and opportunities of future sustainable smart city innovation and development. This article conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of South Korea's smart city programs and conceptualized a sustainable smart city framework that will assist policymakers, planners, citizens, and other key stakeholders. This research proposed Governance, Policy, and Services (GPS) as the three pillars of a successful smart city framework, in addition to integrating physical and cyber infrastructures. This article argues that a smart city should function as a service platform that incubates and delivers long-term services to citizens and society. This article also emphasizes that a strong groundwork of the GPS framework will lead to the successful adaptation of innovative technologies and ideas for future smart city programs.