SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul city government will invest 172.3 billion won (US$126.4) over the next five years in an ambitious design industry development project aimed at nurturing Korean versions of the global furniture giant IKEA, officials said Wednesday. The five-year plan aims to strengthen the design industry in the capital and [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 16 (Korea Bizwire) – Transportation-related information, particularly subway data, has emerged as the most sought-after public dataset among Seoul residents, according to a report released October 15 by the Seoul Digital Foundation. The report, titled “Seoul Public Data in My Hand,” provides insights into how citizens are engaging with the city’s open data initiative. [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon presented his vision for a smart city at the opening ceremony of the Smart Life Week (SLW) exhibition, which kicked off on October 10 at COEX in Gangnam District. The inaugural Smart Life Week, running through October 12, brings together 500 participants, including mayors and corporate [...]
SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Korea Bizwire) – In a symbolic move to reclaim its cultural heritage, South Korea is set to reopen a pathway between two of its most significant royal sites in Seoul, reversing a divisive action taken during Japanese colonial rule. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced that starting October 9, it will open the gates along [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – In a novel approach to blend pop culture tourism with cutting-edge technology, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on September 25 the launch of ‘Soul Spots,’ an initiative that uses artificial intelligence to guide visitors through locations featured in popular Korean dramas, films, and music videos. These ‘Soul Spots,’ named to [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – In a bold move to blend art, technology, and urban renewal, Seoul’s Songpa District is set to break ground this month on a pioneering media art installation at Seokchon Lake, marking a first for South Korea’s public spaces. The project, named The Sphere, is part of an ambitious plan to [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on September 10 that it will extend its Neighborhood Pet Care Center service to single-person households, broadening support for pet owners who need to leave their animals for extended periods. This initiative, coming just before the Chuseok holiday, widens the eligibility criteria from the previous [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on September 4 that it will implement a new administrative telephone service improvement plan aimed at enhancing citizen convenience and protecting government employees. Under the new system, when Seoul city officials make calls to citizens’ Android smartphones, the caller ID will display not only the [...]
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — Ozone-alert days in Seoul have totaled 31 so far this year, a sharp rise from just three for all of 2015, the city government said Wednesday, advising citizens to take precautions against adverse respiratory and other health effects. The number of alerts issued in the city also jumped to [...]
SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) – As Seoul prepares to launch a controversial pilot program for foreign domestic workers next month, a heated debate has erupted over the wages these workers will receive. The program, set to begin on September 3, has drawn criticism for its potential to benefit only the wealthy and exacerbate existing labor [...]