Seoul to invest 490 bln won in "ubiquitous city" plan

SEOUL, Nov. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea announced Monday it will funnel 490 billion
won (US$414 million) into constructing new communities nationwide equipped with
state-of-the-art communication networks.
Under so-called "ubiquitous city" plan -- which involves over 50 developments and
will take around five years -- the communities will have wireless Internet
available throughout and intelligent sensors providing information about
transportation, environment and welfare, the government said.
A governmental committee in charge of the project, chaired by Prime Minister
Chung Un-chan, has completed a master draft for the project. The committee said
the plan will promote new growth engines and modernize city services. Most of the
communities will be bedroom towns outside South Korea's major urban areas.
According to the plan, some 140 billion won will be invested in building
infrastructure and in research and development by 2013. About 350 billion won
will be spent to support industry and develop related services.
The government says the "U-city" project will create some 60,000 jobs by 2013 and
take a 10 percent share of the $240-billion international market for related
urban infrastructure.
brk@yna.co.kr
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