Uijeongbu City in Gyeonggi Province is developing a festival operation platform using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. The next-generation system, which combines a conversational AI with an ontology-based database, is considered a pioneering initiative among basic local governments in Gyeonggi Province.
Uijeongbu City announced Wednesday that it has been selected for the "2026 Gyeonggi Province AI Challenge Program," organized by Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Provincial Economic Science Promotion Agency, securing the full 300 million won in provincial funding. The city signed a project agreement with the Gyeonggi Provincial Economic Science Promotion Agency on November 27 and began system development.
At the core is the "AI-based Festival Operation Platform Uijeongbu Festamaru." A conversational AI agent will respond in real time to inquiries from citizens and visitors. The ontology-based AI database will systematically classify and store festival information to provide context-appropriate responses.
The platform is designed to address the growing trend of festival and event management becoming a routine administrative task, while also resolving information asymmetry on site and limitations in safety management.
The city has secured technical capabilities by forming a consortium with AI technology companies, and plans to complete system development by August. It will then conduct pilot operations at various festivals before carrying out the final demonstration at the Hoeryong Cultural Festival.
"We will implement AI administrative services that citizens can tangibly experience, and systematically accumulate festival operation know-how to deliver consistent and high-quality services," said Shim Kyung-i, head of Uijeongbu City's AI Convergence Information Division.
