BUSAN -- South Korea and ASEAN showcased the future of smart and sustainable living at the Smart City Fair being held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit in Busan.

Organized by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Busan Metropolitan City, the three-day fair kicked off Monday, showcasing smart cities, which encompasses smart homes, water, recycling, security, health care and mobility.

“(A) smart city is a new platform that contains future technologies and new businesses. If ASEAN and South Korea capture ‘the spirit of Asia’ in smart cities, we will be able to spearhead (the) smart city worldwide,” President Moon Jae-in said at the groundbreaking ceremony for Eco Delta City on Sunday. 

Busan Metropolitan City introduced Korea’s first-ever smart city, dubbed Eco Delta City, spanning across 11.8 square kilometers of land, with the aim of housing 76,000 people by 2023.

A total 130 billion won will be invested in the smart city over the next five years, the government said.

Over 100 companies are participating in the fair, offering a look at the future incorporating state of the art technologies at Bexco Exhibition Center II.

In line with the heightened importance of eco-friendly lifestyles, state-run Korea Land & Housing Corp. displayed its smart recycling system.

The food waster bio-recycling system produces compost by mixing food waste and bio wood chips. It is being used by about 630 households in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and 100 households in Doan, Daejeon, an official said.

“South Korea’s efforts to form smart cities go back 10 years. The Eco Delta City will bring together data currently spread out and manage it utilizing artificial intelligence. We plan to provide the data collected to businesses and the public,” Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Kim Hyun-me said at the ministerial level meeting on smart cities in Busan. 

By Kim Bo-gyung (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)