GENEVA – South Korea has solidified its leadership in the global digital landscape by taking the helm of international standardization efforts for Artificial Intelligence (AI)-integrated smart cities. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), a premier South Korean government-funded research organization, announced on June 16 that it successfully led the establishment of the "Focus Group on AI for Smart Sustainable Cities and Communities" (FG-AI4SSC) at the recent International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) SG20 plenary meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Establishing a Global AI Framework

As AI technology continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, nations worldwide are increasingly integrating AI into urban management. However, the lack of interoperability between various digital systems—such as traffic, energy, environment, and public safety—has been a persistent challenge.

The newly formed FG-AI4SSC aims to bridge this gap. It serves as an international consultative body dedicated to discussing how diverse AI technologies utilized across urban sectors can be seamlessly connected and integrated. The primary objective is to develop a common standard framework that enables efficient, holistic operation of smart cities, allowing different urban services and digital systems to communicate and collaborate under a unified AI architecture.

ETRI’s proactive strategy proved instrumental in this achievement. After officially proposing the creation of the focus group during the ITU-T SG20 Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting held this past April, the institute secured broad consensus from 22 member organizations. This diplomatic effort culminated in the final approval of the group during the Geneva plenary session.

Korean Leadership in Standardization

In a significant win for South Korea’s technological diplomacy, Lee Joon-seob, head of the Convergence Standardization Research Section at ETRI, has been appointed as the inaugural chairman of the newly established focus group.

"This achievement marks a pivotal moment for South Korea to secure a leading position in the field of global AI smart city standardization," said Kim Hyeong-joon, Chairman of ITU-T SG20, who has been instrumental in overseeing these standardization processes. "By securing both the establishment of the focus group and the inaugural chairmanship, Korea is now at the forefront of defining how the cities of the future will function."

The focus group is mandated to operate for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of extension depending on progress and requirements. The inaugural meeting is scheduled to be held in Tampere, Finland, this September, where international experts will begin laying the groundwork for the unified AI framework.

Beyond the Focus Group: Broad Technical Achievements

Beyond the creation of the FG-AI4SSC, ETRI recorded significant technical milestones during the ITU-T SG20 plenary meeting. The institute successfully gained final approval for one international standard regarding an IoT-based elevator monitoring framework. Furthermore, three additional international standards—covering IoT-based metaverse platforms, digital twin visualization systems, and smart livestock services—received preliminary approval.

These accomplishments underscore ETRI’s growing influence in the international standardization arena. Lee Seung-yun, head of the Standardization Research Division at ETRI, emphasized the importance of this success: "We are moving beyond achieving quantitative goals. Our focus moving forward will be to dedicate our capabilities to creating 'influential standards' that set the benchmark for the entire industry."

As the world pivots toward more sustainable and intelligent urban environments, South Korea’s leadership in these international fora ensures that the nation remains a key architect of the infrastructure that will define the digital urban experience for generations to come. By fostering global collaboration and technical alignment, South Korea is not only exporting its technological prowess but also ensuring that smart cities remain safe, efficient, and inclusive.