Seoul's Seongdong-gu's innovative future-oriented bus stop, the 'Seongdong-type Smart Shelter,' has won the highest honor, Platinum, in the Urban Furniture category at the 'A' Design Award 2025, one of the world's top three design awards. This is the highest distinction, awarded to only the top 1% of all entries, and its significance is even greater as it marks the first public sector award for a local government in South Korea.
According to Seongdong-gu on the 20th, Seongdong-gu Mayor Jeong Won-oh personally attended and accepted the award at the ceremony held in Como, Italy, on the 17th (local time). The award ceremony was attended by over 900 designers, urban officials, and journalists from more than 100 countries worldwide, demonstrating high interest in the Seongdong-type Smart Shelter. In addition to attending the ceremony, Mayor Jeong received international attention by thoroughly introducing the development process of the Seongdong-type Smart Shelter and Seongdong-gu's smart city strategy to officials from various countries during the exchange session.
The Seongdong-type Smart Shelter is a life-oriented smart city infrastructure that comprehensively addresses various challenges faced by modern cities, such as heatwaves, cold spells, fine dust, and crime prevention. Beyond a simple bus stop, it incorporates advanced Internet of Things (IoT) technologies such as ▲power supply through solar power generation ▲heating and cooling air conditioning systems ▲fine dust reduction filters ▲air quality sensors ▲smartphone wireless chargers ▲AI-based closed-circuit (CC) TVs, providing a pleasant, safe, and convenient environment for users. Specifically, the fine dust reduction filter even removes ultrafine dust, and air quality sensors continuously measure the air quality inside the shelter to maintain a comfortable environment. The AI-based CCTV automatically notifies the control center in emergency situations and enables two-way communication, contributing to crime prevention and rapid response.
Seongdong-gu first installed the Seongdong-type Smart Shelter in August 2020, gaining an explosive response from residents. A satisfaction survey conducted in July last year showed high satisfaction, with 95.1% of users giving positive feedback. This demonstrates that the facility not only excels in its features but also genuinely contributes to improving residents' quality of life.
Regarding the award, Seongdong-gu Mayor Jeong Won-oh stated, "It was very meaningful to share Seongdong-gu's urban capabilities and field experience on the world stage." He added, "We have once again confirmed that the smart inclusive city is now a globally recognized urban paradigm that changes everyone's lives." He further emphasized, "In an era where urban competitiveness is national competitiveness, we will further strengthen our efforts to create a Seongdong where everyone can live well through innovative policies that improve residents' quality of life, thereby elevating the status of K-Administration."
This Platinum award at the 'A' Design Award signifies global recognition of Seongdong-gu's vision for a 'smart inclusive city.' The Seongdong-type Smart Shelter presents a direction for urban infrastructure to move towards and will serve as an important opportunity to showcase South Korea's urban administrative capabilities to the world as a leader in future urban models. Seongdong-gu's continuous innovation and resident-centered smart city policies are expected to further develop and solidify the status of K-Administration in the future.
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