Blueprints for tomorrow’s smart cities in South Korea: conceptual definition and timeline forecast from a policy delphi study

This paper delineates the smart city (SC) concept in a South Korean context and, based on this conceptual definition, it forecasts the expected implementation timeline of the country’s SC pilot projects. Through the use of a three-round policy Delphi methodology, a consensus on the SC concept was reached, with an emphasis on a citizen-centric paradigm. The Delphi panelists predict that South Korea’s SC projects will be completed by 2030. However, the realization of its full-service SC capabilities is expected by 2035. These findings highlight the need for SC policies to prioritize citizens’ satisfaction and quality of life rather than only focusing on technological efficiency. Moreover, this study advocates using phased goal-setting in SC projects to emphasize the importance of integrating urban infrastructure with citizens’ daily lives. Based on these key findings, this study draws policy implications that can help SC policy practitioners.