Even in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Seoul began its drive towards embracing challenges and fostering innovation for the future.
Seoul embarked on a journey of bridging social disparities, reclaiming citizens’ quality of life, and elevating its urban competitive advantage. As a result, the city has forged valuable changes.
Focusing on tailored policies for the economically, physically, and socially vulnerable people.
Ensuring fair competition and opportunities for everyone, creating a society where social mobility is unlocked.
Correcting social polarization and building a special city of companion where everyone can maintain sustainable growth.
We will narrow the gaps in the existing welfare system and boldly eliminate the complicated selection process to remove any blind spots in welfare. The guaranteed income that exceeds the minimum subsistence level will guarantee all citizens a decent life. Seoul is currently executing the secure pilot program and conducting a meaningful experiment on the future welfare model.
View More >Seoul is providing free educational content from famous instructors to provide practical help and opportunities for vulnerable students. We have increased the content for career and employment, expanded the tailored mentoring support to cover the fields of arts and digital, and expanded the scope of support to ensure that more students become eligible to benefit from the education.
View More >Seoul provides support for the cooperation and mutual prosperity of 3-5 nearby public, private, and home daycare center. By jointly planning, operating, and sharing the enrollment of children, programs, and space to become a childcare community, daycare centers can improve operational efficiency and provide better childcare services.
View More >More and more facilities with nursing rooms, diaper changing stations, relaxing spaces where parents can comfortably rest with their kids, and childcare services for parents to enjoy cultural activities while their kids are taken care of safely, family-friendly stores and restaurants that warmly welcome both kids and their parents are popping up all over Seoul. To make going out with children stress-free and enjoyable, Seoul is committed to creating a city that is great for raising children.
View More >Seoul will install at least one elevator in each subway station. We will increase low-floor buses with no steps on city and suburban routes for convenient accessibility. Seoul will increase the number of call taxis for the disabled and reduce the waiting time, ensuring a public transportation environment that is convenient for all citizens without any discrimination.
View More >Digital guides will be available to assist you with complex digital experiences to enjoy a smart digital life. We create digital learning centers in senior centers, welfare centers, and community centers that senior citizens often use, and assign digital guides who will offer counseling and education in a step-by-step, easy-to-understand, and friendly manner. We are also distributing more assistive devices for information and communication for the disabled.
View More >enabling anyone to grow and develop regardless of sex, age, class, etc.
guaranteeing opportunities for vulnerable youth to empower their growth
assisting their new start and successfully re-entering the workforce after retirement in an aging society
providing balanced development to underdeveloped and marginalized communities
Seoul remains entirely dedicated towards ensuring its citizens to feel safe even in the face of pandemic involving COVID-19 or climate disasters.
We are building a stronger social safety net to ensure that citizens feel safe even alone late at night.
We remain committed to developing and executing forward-thinking policies to allow citizens to lead healthy lives amid their busy routines.
Seoul provides smartwatches and mobile apps that allow users to record their health activity data, which is then used to provide personalized health information to each user. Smart healthcare services that help users to take care of their own health by developing dietary choices, exercise routines, and other lifestyle habits ideal for each user. Users are rewarded with various incentives and points that can be used like cash, based on their level of engagement.
View More >Seoul has connected surveillance cameras all over the city to an app to keep citizens safe at all times. The app allows users to monitor their real-time location to make sure they are headed to their destination safely, and to file emergency reports to ensure that the police is dispatched to the scene immediately. The app that ensures safe journeys back home and enable people of all ages and genders to be prepared for any potential risks is also available in English, Chinese, and Japanese. Download app: (Link)
View More >Seoul is expanding the installation of intelligent surveillance cameras in high-risk areas selected by artificial intelligence and big data analysis. As combined video information and GPS location information from surveillance cameras enable object recognition and moving route tacking, this helps prevent crimes and accidents in safety blind spots such as areas densely populated by single-person households, and prevent missing person incidents of senior citizens with cognitive impairments, individuals with disabilities, and children.
View More >Seoul provides extensive support for victims of digital sex crimes for all stages, including online and offline professional counseling, assistance in deleting and monitoring to prevent the spread of victims’ videos, investigation, legal assistance, psychological counseling, and medical support. We take preventive actions against digital sexual crimes as part of our effort to create a safe city against digital sex offenses.
View More >Arisu originates from the Hangang River and undergoes rigorous water quality testing at 602 locations, covering 350 items, which is the highest level in the world. It does not only satisfy the quality standards for drinking water, but is also a healthy and delicious water filled with minerals. With real-time public disclosure of water quality and a quality verification system designed to test each household, Arisu is a world-class tap water that you can drink with confidence.
View More >Citizen-level welfare systems for comfortable livelihoods
Solving Seoul’s housing issue so that citizens can enjoy stable housing
Building a network for disaster safety based on smart city management platforms and AI
Safeguarding citizens’ health at all times during ordinary times and pandemics
Seoul, a city that leads beauty and fashion tailored to Korean culture, is getting ready for the era of 30 million tourists.
The city will attract global financial companies, innovative companies, and new talented individuals in the digital age to incubate future industries.
Seoul is taking on the challenge of becoming a world-class city, making each aspiration a reality.
Seoul, a city that leads beauty and fashion tailored to Korean culture, is getting ready for the era of 30 million tourists. The city will attract global financial companies, innovative companies, and new talented individuals in the digital age to incubate future industries. Seoul is taking on the challenge of becoming a world-class city, making each aspiration a reality.
View More >This is an incredible opportunity to experience the real Seoul through various programs that offer K-pop performances, shopping, gourmet experiences, and trendy lifestyle firsthand. This is Seoul's representative tourism event, which has ensured high levels of satisfaction and global participation since inception in 2022. It will now be held every year in Seoul, the center of Korean wave.
View More >A wide variety of related events in cosmetics, fashion, design, culture, and tourism will be held in relay for a month. Beauty trend talk concerts, makeup demonstrations, product exhibitions, discovery of promising companies, and export counseling for overseas buyers will create synergy in related industries. Seoul's unique vibes, Korean wave, and content for tourists will be combined to create a city that paves the way for the global beauty industry and culture.
View More >Seoul has been ranked as the Best Mice City in the world for 8 consecutive years by Global Traveler, and the second best city in the world and the first best city in Asia for international conferences by the Union of International Associations (UIA). Seoul provides support for the expansion of MICE infrastructure and the discovery of unique venues that showcase Seoul’s allure to improve the convenience for users.
View More >Seoul is expanding the self-driving vehicle pilot operation area from Sangam to cover Gangnam, Cheonggyecheon, and Yeouido as well. Self-driving buses offer free rides on Cheonggyecheon-ro and around the Cheonwadae, and eco-friendly self-driving buses are available in various parts of Seoul during the night. By building the necessary infrastructure, Seoul will become one of the world's top five cities ready for selfdriving vehicles by 2026.
View More >Attracting full-scale foreign investments and businesses to become a top five financial city by 2030
Leading as a startup-friendly city for business growth with top talents and R&D investments
Cultivating the growth of industries, technologies, and cultures to create world-class competition
Elevating citizens’ lives and the city’s competitiveness through Seoul’s cultural and tourism resources
Seoul is at the forefront of carbon neutrality for the planet through zero waste practices and eco-friendly modes of transportation.
Seoul offers innovative public services available for anyone anytime, anywhere.
Seoul is building a smart ecosystem oriented towards its citizens with a digital environment that is ahead of any other city in the world.
Seoul is expanding the operation scale of "Ttareungi" to the optimal level to make bicycles easily accessible for all citizens throughout the city. Through big data analysis, we predict and deploy bicycles in places where demand is high, and provide users with incentives and integrated navigation services, making it easier for more citizens to make bicycles part of their daily lives.
View More >It is the first of its kind in the nation. It offers a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a wide range of books and cultural programs recommended by the Seoul Library, while sitting comfortably in bean bags and camping chairs that embroider the lawn. Visitors can enjoy a special cultural experience and leisure in the heart of Seoul, such as in Seoul Plaza and Gwanghwamun Square.
View More >Seoul will install electric vehicle charging stations at locations requested by citizens. We encourage more people to rely on electric vehicles by ensuring tailored distribution of chargers based on the specific characteristics of each site, enabling QR simple payment payable through mobile phones, and providing locations. We are replacing all delivery motorcycles and cargo vans with 100% electric vehicles.
View More >Seoul operates zero-waste markets that do not use disposable packaging in department stores, chain supermarkets, and shopping centers in apartment complexes. The city also supports zero-cafes that use reusable cups, zero-restaurants that use reusable containers for delivery, and zero-waste campuses led by universities and students. By encouraging citizens to reduce plastic and food waste, the city is paving the way for a sustainable urban environment.
View More >VisitSeoul Open Data Plaza (data.seoul.go.kr/SeoulRtd/) to access various real-time urban data services in Seoul. It is available for anyone to access the data provided by Seoul, such as traffic congestion, road traffic conditions, weather, attractions and cultural events in Seoul, and locations of electric vehicle charging stations.
View More >Seoul operates owl buses in the late night and early morning hours during which regular bus and subway services are not available to make it easier for citizens to move around. To reduce waiting times and make it easier to travel around, the city has increased the number of routes and vehicles, and as of 2023, 139 vehicles are operating across 14 routes. You can gain access to the real-time information about night buses on the TOPIS website, mobile app, or bus information terminal (BIT) at bus stops.
View More >Users are provided with real-time arrival information for buses and subways. (link) Additionally, if you use the subway app designed exclusively for foreign visitors called “Seoul Subway,” it will automatically detect your current location and make it easy for you to search for routes and find out which direction to take the train. Even if you do not know the name of the station you need to get off at, simply set your destination and the app will tell you the nearest station. You can also find out how crowded each carriage is, what options are available for subway tickets, and where lockers are located.
View More >Transforming waterfront urban spaces to revitalize industries and cultural tourism
Building world-class autonomous mobility systems and spaces for pedestrians and cyclists
Leading as a smart city for all ages to enjoy together in a hyper-connected society
Enjoying the charms of nature while responding to climate change as a sustainable city