KRW 103.9 Billion Approved for Smart Village Project
– MSIT to Implement 99 Projects Across 78 Local Governments –
The Ministry of Science and ICT (Minister Lee Jong Ho, MSIT) announced that this year’s budget for the Smart Village Project, aimed at promoting digitalization in local communities and enhancing their competitiveness, was approved by the National Assembly with a total budget of KRW 103.9 billion.
The Smart Village Project, where metropolitan autonomous bodies apply for budgets through autonomous planning, is set to demonstrate and disseminate various smart service models tailored to each region through 99 initiatives across 78 local governments nationwide.
The Project, addressing challenges such as low birth rates, aging populations, and regional income disparities, has positioned itself as a leading program for regional digitalization by tackling tasks related to improving local community welfare environments, ensuring advanced living conditions, and revitalizing local economies.
By integrating digital technologies into various aspects of local infrastructure and facilities, including aging village environments, community welfare facilities such as libraries and care centers, the initiative has contributed to improving productivity in agriculture and fisheries through the application of advanced technologies such as AI and drones. Notably, it has produced remarkable achievements in many areas, such as establishment of smart community centers for the elderly, offering welfare and health care services.
Importantly, one of the significant outcomes of the Smart Village Project, smart community centers, has received positive responses by providing various leisure and welfare programs to local seniors through real-time online connections with multiple community centers and welfare facilities. MSIT is exploring ways to harness smart community centers for health counseling and medical benefits support for seniors living in remote or isolated areas. It is anticipated that the centers will play a key role in the health management of local seniors.
To promote digitalization in local communities without disparities and swiftly disseminate successful cases to local governments nationwide, the Ministry is strengthening project planning, advisory, and promotional activities. In addition, consulting for each task, education for local governments, and various efforts are being made to manage quality of projects and create outstanding outcomes.
Minister Lee Jong Ho of Science and ICT stated, “The expanded Smart Village Project, with a budget of a hundred billion won in 2024, will utilize various digital technologies to address the various issues faced by local communities. The Ministry of Science and ICT will take the lead in ensuring that all citizens can enjoy the benefits of digital technology wherever they are.”
For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.
Please refer to the attached PDF.