Busan has been named one of the world’s leading smart cities, placing 8th globally, 2nd in Asia, and 1st in Korea in the latest Smart Centres Index (SCI) released by the UK-based Z/Yen Group.
The index evaluated 77 major cities using global data from OECD, the World Bank, and expert surveys.
This result marks the highest ranking yet for Busan, which entered the index in 2021 at 62nd place and has climbed steadily in each edition. In the Asia-Pacific region, Busan remains firmly positioned in the top two, reinforcing its status as a rising innovation hub.
Strong Scores Across All Sectors
Busan ranked in the top 15 across all six competitiveness categories:
- Advanced Technology (11th)
- Business Environment (10th)
- Human Capital (9th)
- Infrastructure (9th)
- Financial Support (8th)
- Reputation (10th)
Notably, the city ranked 1st globally in “Innovation Support,” one of the SCI’s three core evaluation perspectives. The index highlighted Busan’s pro-innovation policies, regulatory support, and investment environment.
Why Busan Is Rising
Recent progress reflects years of investment in digital transformation and future industries, including:
- Development of a power-semiconductor cluster
- Establishment of a Blockchain innovation zone
- Operation of a digital twin pilot district
- Expansion of autonomous vehicle services
- Creation of the Busan Metropolitan Fund and a Future Industry Transition Fund (₩2.3 trillion)
- Training programs producing 10,000 advanced digital specialists
Strategic investment attraction and technology-focused business support have also strengthened Busan’s competitiveness.
Building a Model Smart City
Busan’s plans include integrating digital technology into the region’s core industries, advancing AI, quantum tech, robotics, biohealth, and big data, and expanding startup and venture ecosystems. The development of the Eco-Delta Smart City, a national pilot project, will advance data-driven urban operations and mobility systems.
City officials say Busan will continue pushing forward as a leading smart city and innovation hub, aiming to create a place “you would want to live in again,” backed by digital infrastructure and future-focused economic strategies.
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Dieser Artikel ist neu veröffentlicht von / This article is republished from: Stars and Stripes, 10.12.2025
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