The Evaluation and Significance of Smart City Projects in Korea: Targeting Enterprises within the Smart City Association Convergence Alliance

Abstract

This study identified, analysed, and prioritised significant factors for standardising the Korean smart city project evaluation system. We analysed the efficiency and productivity of companies currently providing smart city services, considering both policy and practical aspects. The prioritisation of smart city planning reflects the latest trends in South Korea, where urban planning is moving towards smart city planning. Furthermore, public–private and private–private partnership capacity-building highlights the importance of business scalability. This shows that smart city services are only stabilised when the private sector is involved in and leads the project, rather than focusing on public development. The feasibility of building intelligent facilities indicates that smart city projects should be implemented after securing cost–benefit feasibility. The results were used as the basis for an evaluation system, showing that, in smart city convergence alliances, small- and medium-sized enterprises achieved the highest efficiency by reducing inputs to 81% and 86% under the assumptions of constant and variable returns to scales, respectively. As the operational aspect is more problematic than the technical aspect, policy alternatives are necessary for smooth business progress, including increased flexibility of laws and institutions and the activation of policies that temporarily relieve regulations for smart city projects.