Public Lecture: Regenerating Shrinking Cities in Korea: A Living Lab Approach Integrating Big Data and Citizen Engagement

As many Asian countries face the challenges of population aging, low birth rates, and urban concentration in mega-cities, South Korea stands out as a telling example. The population centralization in Seoul has led to significant “urban shrinkage” in many provincial cities, calling for adaptive and sustainable regeneration strategies.
This public lecture introduces the Living Lab model in urban regeneration—an approach where big data and citizen participation are integrated to co-create future urban visions. Drawing from practical research in Miryang City, the speaker will demonstrate how data on energy use, mobility, and urban imagery can be combined with local residents’ ideas collected through interviews, workshops, and generative AI applications. The outcome, a “Future Newspaper,” serves as an innovative platform for dialogue among citizens, experts, and policymakers, enabling evidence-based and scalable urban regeneration models.
The lecture offers fresh insights into data-driven urban planning, citizen engagement, and sustainable development policies—providing meaningful lessons for Vietnam in its ongoing urbanization journey.
Speaker
Prof. Jeongseob Kim, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Civil, Urban, Earth, and Environmental Engineering
Director, Center for Anticipatory Urban Strategies
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Korea
Event Details
Time: 13:00 – 15:00, November 17, 2025
Venue: Room V02, Campus V – UEH
232/6 Vo Thi Sau Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh CityParticipants: Faculty members, urban planners, researchers, students, and anyone interested in innovation and sustainability in urban planning
Registration: Here
