Korean cities have made remarkable progress in the last 60 years. Rapid economic growth during the industrialization in the 1960s–1970s raised living standards considerably, and it also saw the emergence of urban development challenges over the decades as new development gains are achieved. Seoul, for example, had to face a massive rural-urban exodus, which caused housing shortages, increase in slum areas, lack of infrastructure and services, and environmental degradation. And these challenges paved the way for new and innovative ways of managing cities, which have been replicated in other cities and new urban development in the Republic of Korea.

This event is designed to share knowledge and solutions to help with urbanization challenges focusing on Korean experiences and enterprises’ expertise. The event aimed to find out how Korean cities faced these challenges, and how they currently leverage digital technologies to develop new urban services that improve cities’ operational performance, provide greater transparency and more interaction with citizens, and reduce the local environmental impact and inequalities. The knowledge sessions framed the context with highlighting the challenges faced in each urban subsector. The sessions emphasized solutions that worked and others that did not work and why.