WeGO raised a new smart culture agenda at the GEEF 2023 to international stakeholders
SEOUL, FEBRUARY 02, 2023 – WeGO presented at the 5th Global Engagement Empowerment Forum on Sustainable Development (GEEF 2023) co-hosted by the Institute for Global Engagement & Empowerment (IGEE), Ban Ki-moon Foundation for a Better Future, Yonsei University and Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens. It is an annual international event where all stakeholders, including global leaders and experts, convene to collaborate towards accomplishing the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Under the theme “Turning Point: From Crisis into Opportunity,” global leaders gathered to propose various solutions that respond to global issues such as those regarding digital health, infectious disease diagnosis, smart cities, the future of higher education, climate crisis, social innovation and decarbonization. High-level speakers and panelists including the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Mayor of Seoul Oh Se-hoon, Deputy Chair of the Elders & Former First Lady of South Africa Graça Machel and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea Kang Kyung-wha shared their vision on how to solve global issues and address the challenges.
The WeGO Secretary General, Ms. Jung Sook Park, gave a presentation under the theme of the human-centered smart cities beyond technology during the plenary session determined to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive cities. Ms. Park pointed out that this year, WeGO brings a new agenda where smart cities are no longer technology or ICT policies but culture. Work, food, health, medical care, transportation, telecommunication, environment, architecture, education, art, tourism, etc. are all of which can be applied to our lifestyle through smart city solutions.
“Nowadays, smart city development is increasingly turning its attention to establishing the software or content of smart cities. The smart city is no longer a simple application of technology to solve urban issues. Smart city framework has become a culture in itself for the lives of citizens” – said WeGO Secretary General Ms. Jung Sook Park.
Taking the opportunity forward, WeGO presented a Seoul Smart City Prize. is designed to promote and champion the people-centered digital transformation that is geared towards providing more accessible services for all citizens. As cities around the world are striving to adopt advancing technologies in their city management, there are many factors to consider to make it a successful implementation, such as the flexibility in managing complex regulatory systems, effectiveness, fairness, and inclusiveness.
The Seoul Smart City Prize focuses on identifying the exemplary models of city governments as well as individual, corporate, and institutional efforts in ensuring an inclusive digitalization of public services that benefit all people in sectors ranging from mobility, safety, welfare, environment, energy, culture, and governance. Winners will be recognized for their innovative and inclusive achievements in front of a large, global audience consisting of world mayors, city officials, and international organizations, with an opportunity to share their models of success in demonstrating innovation, efficiency, and inclusiveness in their stories of digital transformation.
About WeGO
The World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO), is a membership-based international association of local governments, smart tech solution providers, and institutions committed to the transformation of cities into smart sustainable cities through facilitating public-private partnerships (PPP). WeGO was founded by 50 member cities in 2010 as the World e-Governments Organization, hence our acronym. In response to the evolving concept of smart cities, WeGO expanded its vision and mandate at the 7th General Assembly (2017) and its name to the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization. WeGO’s Secretariat is based in Seoul, Korea, and has regional offices in East Asia (Chengdu, China), the Mediterranean (Beyoglu, Turkey), Africa (Abuja, Nigeria), Middle East & North Africa (Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), Latin America (Cuenca, Ecuador), and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan). As the leading platform on smart city development, WeGO’s mission is to share knowledge and good practices in e-Governance; strengthen administrative efficiency and transparency; advance digital capacity; facilitate civic involvement; bridge the digital divide and inequality; and promote cooperation solidarity among cities and local governments around the world.
WeGO serves for its members as their international platform to improve the quality of life, innovate in the delivery of public services, and strengthen regional competitiveness.
Press Contact:
Name: Kakim Danabayev
E-mail: kakim@we-gov.org
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