# Korea looks to AI, data hubs to power next-generation smart cities > Source: > Published: 2026-06-12 06:52:03+00:00 The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport unveiled Friday the winners of its 2026 smart city initiative, a multiyear project that will funnel millions of dollars into provincial cities to tackle urban decay and demographic challenges using artificial intelligence (AI) and centralized data networks. The central government selected the city of Suwon as its primary hub-type demonstration city, while naming Busan and Seongnam as specialized smart districts. Additionally, South Gyeongsang Province and Taean County were selected to pilot sophisticated data hubs — regional platforms designed to collect, clean and analyze real-time urban data spanning transit, environmental metrics and consumer habits. Under the initiative, the selected regional governments will receive up to 16 billion won ($11.7 million) each in matching state funds over a three-year period. Rather than simply funding physical infrastructure like sensors and cameras, the 2026 program marks a distinct shift toward operational software, utilizing generative AI agents and predictive algorithms to manage daily civic l