“It gets better after you move in” ... ‘Update Cities’ in the Spotlight

[Financial News] Breaking from the old formula in which urban development was completed when the apartments were completed, so-called “Update Cities”—where functions expand after residents move in to keep pace with technological advances and changing lifestyle needs—are emerging as a new residential paradigm.
According to industry sources on the 11th, Fujisawa SST (Sustainable Smart Town), one of Japan’s leading smart cities, has continued to add new facilities, including senior housing and multi-purpose sports facilities, since its development in 2014. It is also pursuing plans to upgrade existing services in areas such as energy, security and mobility to mark the town’s 10th anniversary. Around the world, examples of cities expanding their functions after residents move in to reflect changes in their lifestyles are attracting attention.
This model of future-oriented urban development is also gaining traction in South Korea. A leading example is the 5-1 Living Area in Hapgang-dong, Sejong City, designated a national smart city pilot project in 2018. The flagship district development project there has adopted a long-term structure, with five years for building smart services and 10 years of operation, and is designed to allow new infrastructure and services to be added continuously even after residents move in.
A wide range of customized services will be introduced in phases in the Sejong National Pilot City in line with the urban development schedule. In transportation, car-sharing and autonomous mobility will be introduced, while advanced robotic systems—including delivery robots, luggage-carrying robots and patrol robots—will operate within the complex. Residential services closely connected to daily life, such as Smart Home Town services based on the HomeTown app, personalized health management and smart farms, will also be added in stages, further enhancing the convenience available to residents.
This shift in development methods is also bringing about a major change in the criteria homebuyers use to make their choices. In the past, residential value was determined by conditions in place at the time of completion, such as location, brand and the complex’s design. Going forward, buyers are increasingly considering lifestyle services that continue to evolve after move-in, as well as long-term residential convenience.
Against this backdrop, BS Hanyang is drawing market attention as it prepares to launch sales of Sejong Smart City L Sujain this November in the flagship district of the national pilot city in the 5-1 Living Area of Hapgang-dong, Sejong City. The mega-scale complex will comprise 2,191 apartment units and 125 officetel units, for a total of 2,316 units.
The Smart Living Zone, where the complex will be built, is a residential hub with access to abundant infrastructure connected to the business, commercial and cultural facilities of the nearby Innovation Venture Startup Zone. In particular, as advanced smart services befitting a national pilot city are introduced in phases in line with the development schedule, the complex is expected to offer future value that sets it apart from other developments. Combined with the pleasant natural surroundings near the Geum River and Miho River, these features are expected to maximize residents’ quality of life.

[email protected] Jeon Min-gyeong Reporter