Green today, thriving tomorrow: Seoul’s eco-urban blueprint

The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) has launched a bold, comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Key actions include promoting public transportation, expanding the use of electric and hydrogen vehicles, introducing a building emissions management system, and developing a Seoul-specific LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. With these efforts, the Republic of Korea’s capital is making significant progress toward carbon neutrality.

Real-time traffic management system

Since the rising influx of private vehicles, which leads to congestion and stress on its public transit system, Seoul has focused on revitalizing its transit network in the past years. A central emphasis has been placed on improving the overall public transportation experience, creating a system that delivers passengers safely and efficiently, while providing real-time, reliable information.

One of these is the Transport Operation and Information Service (TOPIS), an integrated traffic centre to improve the management of Seoul’s transportation network. It provides real-time management of communication and traffic by collecting information, such as traffic speed and volume, as well as CCTV footage, from major traffic information centers, including the Bus Management System, the Transport Card System, the surveillance system, and traffic-related authorities and institutions. By keeping the public informed through various digital platforms, such as Internet, mobile phone, traffic broadcasts, and electronic road signs, TOPIS ensures everyone can access timely updates. 

AI-powered public transport in Seoul

Since 2022, Seoul has launched multiple self-driving bus services to introduce visitors to the city’s rich historical and cultural landmarks, while also showcasing its cutting-edge autonomous driving technology. By 2024, some of these autonomous buses were incorporated into Seoul’s public transportation system, operating at five key locations every 15 minutes along a 2.6 km route among some of the most popular tourist attractions.

In 2023, SMG expanded its service range by introducing late-night and early-morning autonomous buses, also addressing the ongoing driver shortage. To ensure safety, passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts fastened. A security guard is stationed in the driver’s seat to handle any emergencies that may arise.

In 2024, a new AI-powered real-time interpretation system was rolled out at the Customer Support Centre in Myeong-dong Station, on Seoul Subway Line 4. Equipped with a microphone and a transparent touch screen, it translates spoken questions into Korean, allowing station staff to promptly address inquiries about subway routes, transfer points, as well as details regarding T-lockers and T-luggage.

Expanding zero-emission transportation

Seoul is actively promoting electric and hydrogen vehicles to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. To accelerate this shift, the city provides subsidies for the purchases of electric vehicles, with additional support for long-distance heavy-duty vehicles.

By the end of 2024, Seoul has achieved a cumulative supply of 100,000 electric vehicles. In the past year alone, 13,569 electric vehicles were distributed, leading to an estimated reduction of approx. 97,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent. In the public sector, 1,985 buses have been supplied so far, about 22% of the total number of city and village buses.

Seoul is also strengthening its EV charging infrastructure. These are being installed along roadways and in public parking lots. The newly introduced “EV Charging Station Address System” helps drivers locate these charging stations. Additionally, the city offers “On-site Electric Vehicle Charging Service” for individuals with limited mobility and is developing an automated robotic charging system to ensure a seamless and accessible charging experience for everyone.

Similarly, to encourage the adoption of hydrogen vehicles over petrol-powered ones, Seoul offers a variety of incentives such as purchase subsidies, tax reductions, and exemptions from public parking fees and congestion charges at the Namsan Tunnel. SMG aims to increase its fleet of hydrogen buses to 1,000 by 2025 and establish 11 hydrogen refueling stations. 

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings

In the city, the building sector accounts for more than half of the total emissions, followed by transportation and waste. To systematically reduce carbon emissions in the building sector, Seoul has introduced the “Building Energy Usage Reporting and Grading System.” It requires non-residential private buildings over 3,000 square meters (and public buildings over 1,000 square meters) to report their energy consumption in electricity, city gas, and district heating. Based on usage, buildings are graded on a five-tier efficiency rating from A to E. 

At the same time, Seoul offers certification for high-performance energy-efficient buildings and provides consulting services to enhance energy efficiency in those with lower ratings. Buildings that achieve an excellent energy usage rating (A and B classes) receive the ‘Seoul Low Carbon Building Certification Plaque’ and are highlighted through the official public relations channels of the SMG.

Regular audits are conducted at least once a year, focusing on environmental performance indicators such as energy efficiency, water usage, and recycling rates. Based on the audit results, corrective actions are recommended, and incentives are offered to encourage improvements.

Complementing this, the “Building Greenhouse Gas Total Emission System” sets standard emission benchmarks for 12 building types, encouraging owners to cut emissions voluntarily. Applicable to buildings meeting the same size thresholds as the reporting system, this framework provides a data-driven approach to managing urban carbon footprints.

To encourage voluntary reductions, an eco-mileage system motivates building owners and organizations to reduce energy consumption. Households that have reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by at least five percent in at least two categories (electricity, water, gas) for six months can receive up to 50,000 mileage points. These can be exchanged for eco-friendly products, used to discount apartment maintenance fees or to charge public transportation cards.

Introducing the Seoul-Style LEED Certification

The globally recognized LEED certification, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, has set a benchmark for green building practices, with over 197,000 projects across 186 countries. As the most widely utilized green building rating system, LEED certification offers a robust framework for designing healthy, efficient, and cost-effective green buildings, contributing positively to environmental, social, and governance outcomes.

SMG is actively implementing various development projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainability through local initiatives such as G-SEED and Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB). However, there is room for improvement in establishing comprehensive systems that can support eco-friendly planning at the block or regional level, signaling an opportunity for growth in this area.

In response to this need, 2023 marked the collaboration between Seoul and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop the Seoul-Style LEED system, known as LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development). This innovative system focuses on evaluating sustainability on a district-wide scale, differing from the global LEED, which traditionally emphasizes individual buildings. While global LEED can assess neighborhoods within specific categories, LEED-ND effectively highlights the importance of neighborhood-level sustainability through key aspects such as transit connectivity and green infrastructure.

LEED-ND introduces key categories such as Smart Location and Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern and Design, Green Infrastructure and Buildings, and Innovation in the Design Process. These elements are aimed at boosting community-level sustainability by focusing on important aspects like access to public transit, mixed-use developments, and ecological systems. By promoting a collaborative approach, LEED-ND helps foster the creation of more sustainable neighborhoods, ultimately benefiting the entire community.

Seoul’s commitment to urban sustainability

The initiatives above showcase that Seoul is setting a new global standard for climate action, demonstrating that cities can lead the way toward a carbon-neutral future. 

SMG has been a key strategic partner of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and host city of the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat since 2012. In 2024, ICLEI East Asia and SMG deepened the partnership through several impactful initiatives to promote sustainable urban development. The ICLEI – SMG Capacity-Building Program on Low Carbon Development for Uzbek Local Governments brought Uzbek delegates to Seoul for a comprehensive program, showcasing the city’s leadership in energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable transportation, empowering them to shape and implement low-carbon strategies in their own cities. 

At the 2024 Seoul International Forum on Climate and Environment, ICLEI convened an international panel that highlighted local solutions to plastic pollution, reaffirming Seoul’s role as a leader in environmental innovation. Furthermore, the East Asia Carbon-Neutral Cities Accelerator project, launched by ICLEI East Asia, featured Seoul’s Climate Card initiative as a best practice model in its annual compendium, highlighting SMG’s role in shaping low-carbon urban transitions. These joint efforts showcase how ICLEI and Seoul are working together to empower cities and scale transformative climate solutions across the region and globally. 

Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by the ICLEI East Asia Secretariat based on information and resources provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The views and interpretations expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the official position of the Seoul Metropolitan Government.