Ellie Lee

Ms. Lee is an experienced Transportation/City Planner, Consultant, and Engineer with a demonstrated history of working in the planning and engineering industry for over seven years. 

With a degree of Civil Engineering and a Master's Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Ms. Lee has been involved with diverse and complex projects that require strategy development and implementation. 

As a member of an IEC Smart Cities Systems Committee member, her interest mainly focuses Smart Cities, Transportation and Innovative Design that positively impact people's lives.

Talk title: Thinking of Cities? Think Smart!

My interest in cities and people formed at a young age while growing up in three cities in multiple countries: Seoul, Winnipeg, and Minneapolis. Comparing cities became a habit, and I often thought about how my life would have been very different if I had lived without moving. 

Indeed, each of my home cities’ culture, surroundings, and modes of transportation impacted my day-to-day life. This experience gradually led me to believe that creating good places for people is essential - because where you live affects your life. But what is a good city? 
- Is it a city where flying cars navigate congestion-free skies? 
- A city where discrimination and poverty are entirely eradicated? 

To be honest, it’s not easy to define what it is and it might be even meaningless to define a city as something– because it’s a complex ecosystem. 
However, one thing for sure is: it is undeniable that people need places to live and fulfill their lives. Hence, the cities continuously need to be maintained and reimagined.

And I think I am not the only one who has been thinking like this. Because I’ve been seeing numerous initiatives of building and rebuilding cities especially reimagining cities as smart cities in Eurasia and all round the world.

Copenhagen has established the "Copenhagen Solutions Lab" to make the city more sustainable and livable through innovative urban solutions. Singapore has embarked on its "Smart Nation" initiative, striving to enhance the quality of life, bolster economic competitiveness, and improve sustainability through technology and data. Amsterdam is carving its path to a brighter future with the "Amsterdam Smart City" project, focusing on mobility, energy efficiency, and circular economy solutions. Tokyo is actively engaged in "Tokyo's Green Growth" to promote sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.

And as a city planner and civil engineer, I am so very happy to see all of these great progress - But today, I really want to focus on a specific country that has made remarkable strides in the smart city arena – South Korea, my current home.

History of Korea and smart cities:
• Korea, located between China and Japan, is about the size of Hungary. 
• Throughout the last century, it has had its ups and downs, with periods of colonization and war. 
• In 1910 through 45 the Country was under Japan and In 1953, the Korean Peninsula was divided into North and South.
• However, in the 70s and 80s, South Korea made an astonishing economic leap and is now recognized as a world-leading ICT/IT powerhouse.

• It’s quick and easy to say about Korea – but How did South Korea swiftly became a global smart city leader?
• Because the idea of smart cities became a trend just over a decade ago. 
• I think South Korea got very lucky with timing.  

The progress of building smart cities:
• in 1994, just as the internet was gaining popularity. The government initiated a high-speed internet policy, aiming to establish nationwide high-speed communication networks by 2015. 
• Which was accomplished and this foresight laid the groundwork for what was to come. 
• Another pivotal moment was the simultaneous development of new cities and high-speed information networks, sparking the idea of a "new urban model" that harnesses information technology to solve city problems in real-time. 
• So years before the term ‘smart city’ got the attention, South Korea was paving their ways to smart city without knowing.

Thus, Korea’s some early decisions made Korea to be head of the game in the smart city market.
• In fact, before the idea of smart cities emerged, South Korea launched the ubiquitous city project, harnessing information and communication technologies (ICT) to create a more interconnected urban landscape.
•  This visionary project included deploying CCTV cameras nationwide for data collection. These cameras enhanced safety and proved invaluable in solving criminal cases, capturing the movements of suspects and witnesses, and establishing timelines. South Korea, as a result, earned a reputation as one of the safest places to live.
• This was all before the Smart City Law which was established in 2018. – Just 5 years ago.

After its enactment, the government began to take actions more progressively. They not only allocated substantial funds to support Smart City projects all over the country, they have revised regulations to accommodate new technologies, provided resources. 
• South Korea introduced a regulatory sandbox for smart cities, allowing businesses, especially innovative startups, to test new products and services in a controlled and supervised environment.
•  Busan and Sejong were designated as the national pilot smart cities, and projects such as Sejong 5-1 District and Busan Eco Delta City emerged. Sejong focusing on data-driven solutions, sustainability, and economic growth, and Busan emphasizing eco-conscious urban regeneration, transportation solutions, and entrepreneurship.
• Furthermore, Personal privacy protection laws were enacted to ensure the respectful use of data.
• The government also launched the Smart City Challenge, a hub-based smart city development project aiming to create smart hubs that enhance regional competitiveness and drive the proliferation of smart cities. With a budget of USD 20 million per city over three years, the program has invigorated smart city initiatives.
• Additionally, city operations centers have been encouraged to use integrated platforms and central systems that connect and manage various aspects of urban infrastructure and services. These platforms streamline data collection, analysis, and utilization to enhance overall city efficiency and address concerns such as traffic management and environmental well-being.
• And on top of all of these, events like World Smart City Expo(WSCE) are annually being held in Korea, a major international event dedicated to the discussion and promotion of smart city initiatives, urban innovation, and sustainable urban development. promoting smart cities worldwide.

But where is the smart city going? In South Korea? Worldwide?

It’s truly great that South Korea is making all of these steps. It is important to consider where smart cities are heading, whether it's in South Korea or worldwide. As per my story, the right combination of infrastructure development and laws/regulations have made South Korean cities renowned smart cities. I am proud of the South Korean’s enthusiasm and passion for building smart cities, which ultimately aim to provide better places for people. If Korea can do it, other countries can also achieve the same.

For the years to come, South Korea intends to use the data gathered from the pilot cities and the use case data from research and development to expand its smart city projects. Their focus will primarily be on reducing energy consumption, promoting green and sustainable cities, and improving current smart city solutions. Moreover, Korea is keen to enhance data management not just for smart cities but for other purposes -

Regarding recent city development, South Korea has already made significant strides in this direction by providing autonomous bus services in the city center and constructing sustainable buildings that save energy.

Furthermore, you should know that the country develops a strategic plan for smart cities every five years, with the next one being released early next year. You can check it out once it becomes available.

And where should it go?

In my presentation, I discussed how South Korea started building smart cities without a clear understanding of their objectives. Although they had the technical expertise, they lacked defined goals to address critical urban problems such as waste management, traffic congestion, air pollution, and the scarcity of green spaces. As a result, these challenges continue to plague South Korean cities. While they have made progress with their efforts, more profound innovation is necessary to address these issues effectively.

Today, the world faces significant climate change and urban sustainability threats, making it crucial to move beyond the status quo. South Korea began its smart city initiatives as early as 1994, and while they have made progress, it is vital to establish clear, sustainable goals. The solution does not lie in just installing more cameras and sensors; it requires a comprehensive strategy to create greener, more eco-friendly urban environments.

In times of crisis, such as the wartime urgency of the 1940s, people unleashed remarkable creativity and innovation, even under immense pressure. This is exemplified by the development of the first atomic bomb, which was achieved with astounding efficiency.

It raises the question: if people in 1945 could muster such innovation under duress, what transformative solutions can we develop today to address our most pressing urban and environmental challenges?...