By Jung Joo-ri and Yoon Sojung

President Moon Jae-in on Nov. 24 emphasized the significance of smart city cooperation between Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

At the groundbreaking ceremony of the Busan Eco Delta Smart City in Busan the day before the start of the 2019 ASEAN-ROK (Republic of Korea) Commemorative Summit, he said, "Korea has experienced traffic congestion, environmental pollution, catastrophes and disasters that have accompanied urban sprawl. The smart city is infused with all the methods we’ve applied to address these problems," adding, "I believe the Korean-style 'smart city' can offer them one model in this regard."

President Moon further acknowledged ASEAN's potential in the smart city sector.

The president said, "If a common smart city platform is developed within the infrastructure that ASEAN member states are putting in place, intraregional connectivity will be enhanced and 'mutual advancement' can be expedited."
 
President Moon also vowed to share Korea's knowledge and experience in the construction of Busan Eco Delta Smart City with cities in the ASEAN region and develop a structure for collaboration between ASEAN members.


"In this regard, the smart city is a place imbued with the inclusive 'Asian spirit,' where neither nature nor any person is excluded," he said, adding, "If ASEAN and Korea capture the 'Asian spirit' here, we can lead the world in the smart city sector."


The ceremony was attended by ASEAN heads of state such as Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and ASEAN Secretary General Lim Jock Hoi.

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