Dangjin Declares Vision to Become Korea’s Leading AI Transformation City

Dangjin has set itself an ambitious target: not simply adding artificial intelligence to selected services, but reorganizing the city around it. Mayor Kim Ki-jae unveiled the vision on Aug. 31 under the slogan “Dangjin Leads Korea’s AI Transformation.”

The plan divides the transformation into three areas: safety, industry and administration. The city’s seven flagship projects include an AI integrated control center, intelligent traffic systems, an AI data-center megazone, AI applications in farming, fishing and manufacturing, support for AI startups and small businesses, an AI citizen assistant, and an AI administrative officer.

“

AI transformation is not simply about introducing new technology. It is Dangjin’s future strategy to make citizens’ lives safer and more convenient and strengthen the competitiveness of local industries.

The proposed control center would connect weather, river, traffic and crime-prevention CCTV data with information from other sensors. The city says AI would analyze the data in real time to identify warning signs and possible accidents before they occur. Intelligent traffic systems would use AI signal controls and smart crosswalks to improve traffic flow and protect children, older people and others vulnerable on the roads.

“

We will make safety more closely connected, industry stronger and administration more convenient.

Industry plans center on attracting a 1-gigawatt AI data center and linking it with an AX university-industry innovation park and an AI convergence industrial complex. Dangjin also plans data-based forecasting and autonomous farm machinery for agriculture and fisheries, along with a demonstration industrial park to raise manufacturing productivity and competitiveness. An AI hub at Youth Town Narae would support training, entrepreneurship and startups, while local small businesses could receive help with promotion, business analysis and customer management.

For residents, the AI citizen assistant would offer public-service information based on stages of life such as childbirth, childcare, education, employment and retirement. The AI administrative officer would help civil servants search laws and policy documents, prepare reports and meeting materials, and organize records. Dangjin plans to expand AI applications later to culture, sports, tourism, urban services, traditional markets and small businesses. About 600 residents, institutions and businesspeople attended the vision ceremony.

“

We will pursue the seven flagship projects with speed so that the slogan ‘Dangjin Leads Korea’s AI Transformation’ becomes a change citizens can experience in daily life.