Strengthening practical policy-making capacities through field trips to the "Gangneung ITS World Congress" and "Taebaek 365 Safety Town"

Gangwon State, in partnership with UN-Habitat, is hosting an international training program on "Regional Development and Urban Infrastructure" for eight days from October 20 to 27 at the Gangwon International Urban Training Center (IUTC).

This international training program was designed to explore sustainable regional development measures that reflect regional conditions and demands, and to strengthen the policy and implementation capabilities necessary for urban development, such as smart city management, future transportation systems, and disaster safety. In particular, it holds significance in sharing Gangwon's major policies and developmental experiences with overseas local governments, while expanding international exchanges and cooperation.

The training brings together 16 public officials and experts from Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Participants will study a wide range of topics, including South Korea's economic development and regional development policies, artificial intelligence (AI) technology, smart eco-cities, disaster and safety management, and new town development along with urban infrastructure.

The program consists of theoretical lectures and field trips covering subjects such as:

-Artificial intelligence (AI) technology and smart eco-cities
-Disaster and safety management and urban resilience
-Integrated smart city management solutions
-Compact cities and future mobility

In particular, participants will attend the Gangneung ITS World Congress to examine future transportation technologies such as autonomous driving, drone delivery, and robot parking. They will also visit the Gangneung Metaverse Experience Center and the Taebaek 365 Safety Town to directly experience cutting-edge urban technologies, disaster response, and safety management cases.

Since signing an agreement with UN-Habitat in 2006, Gangwon State has been operating the world's only international training institution among local governments. For 19 years since 2007, it has continuously provided Official Development Assistance (ODA) for human capacity building toward the sustainable urban development of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kim Young-gyun, Director of International Relations for Gangwon State, stated, "We hope this training will serve as an opportunity to share Gangwon's regional development and urban management experiences with the international community and find practical policy solutions tailored to local conditions. Moving forward, we will continue to spread Gangwon's outstanding policy experiences and strengthen international cooperation for urban development."

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]