The Busan Metropolitan Government is overhauling its entire administrative system around data and artificial intelligence (AI). The city will invest more than 50 billion won over the next five years in a "data-driven administrative transformation" that spans public data utilization, industry development and talent cultivation.
Busan announced on July 6 that it has established a "Master Plan for Data-Based Administrative Strategy" and is entering full-scale implementation. The mid-to-long-term plan commits a total of 50.3 billion won to boost administrative efficiency in response to the broader digital transformation and AI proliferation while systematically nurturing a data industry ecosystem.
The city finalized four core strategies and 10 action items through expert consultations and interdepartmental coordination. The central goal is to unify the entire cycle of data production, management and utilization into a single framework. First, "data openness service optimization" aims to discover high-value-added data tailored to citizen and corporate demand and increase its utilization. "Data management systematization" focuses on integrating scattered administrative data across departments to enhance reliability.
On the industrial front, the city placed "private-sector-led data industry promotion" at the forefront. It plans to foster data companies and build data ecosystems across key industries to establish a foundation for private-sector-driven growth. The addition of "core data talent development" will ensure the securing of specialized professionals while improving data literacy among citizens.
A defining feature of the master plan is its coverage of the entire data lifecycle, from collection and openness to analysis and industrialization. The city plans to build an enterprise-wide metadata management system and a control tower function to ensure consistency in data governance. It will also pursue annual budget allocations to simultaneously support businesses and expand the industrial ecosystem.
"This strategy goes beyond simply utilizing data — it strengthens data utilization capabilities across both the public and private sectors and establishes a data-driven decision-making framework," a city official said. "We will faithfully carry out the 10 action items to deliver data-driven administration that citizens can tangibly experience."