“Find the Next Growth Engine” Competition among Local Governments to Promote Blockchain Industry

Busan, creating ecosystem for logistics and tourism Jeju, re-challenge of special zone for blockchain designation North Jeolla, seeking substantiality of blockchain pilot project for the public sector

All local governments in South Korea are trying to foster blockchain industry. In particular, Busan plans to create a local blockchain ecosystem around four areas: logistics, tourism, public safety, and digital vouchers.

According to blockchain industry on the 14th, Busan city announced that it will pursue the ‘Busan blockchain industrialization promotion project’ focusing on the expansion of the special zone business and blockchain industrialization for the second year of designation as blockchain regulation-free special zone.

Busan has six major blockchain industrialization projects △Substantiation of four special zone projects in logistics, tourism, public safety, and finance △Associate special zone projects with government pilot projects △Establishing foundation of blockchain industry development △Training of blockchain professional manpower △Improvement of blockchain regulations and systems △Enhancement of knowledge of blockchain technology

First of all, Busan city will expand the exploration and application of blockchain technology and services by associating government pilot projects including smart city with four existing special zone projects.

The financial project combines digital vouchers with film production support and develops securities cryptocurrency trading system. Tourism and public safety projects graft blockchain services onto cruise tourists certification and redevelopment licensing. They will also develop technology to manage design copyrights on blockchain. In addition, they will establish a ‘blockchain industrial support center’ that will lead the industrialization of blockchain. This center is responsible for source monitoring, issuing exchange certificates, resolving and analyzing of vulnerability, technology verification and evaluation, and developing blockchain source technology applicable to Busan strategic industry. They will establish a ‘blockchain graduate school’ in the second half of this year to provide customized professional manpower required by companies.

Jeju plans to re-challenge to special zone for blockchain designation. Won Hee-ryong, Jeju Governer, said at the opening of the ‘2019 Blockchain in Jeju’ forum held at KAL Hotel in December last year, “There are a lot of young talent and young companies in Jeju. We will actively make efforts for the future strategic industries including preparing and presenting special benefits for the blockchain regulations.”

Last month, Jeju has completed the construction of ‘blockchain-based used battery of electric vehicle distribution history management system’, investing 1.32 billion won through matching government expenses and private companies for a year. This project was selected as ‘2019 blockchain pilot project for public sector’ by Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA). With the construction of electric vehicle distribution history management system for used batteries, Jeju is able to track all histories such as receipt, various inspections, classification and release of used batteries collected at the Jeju techno park electric vehicle battery industrialization center with blockchain technology. This can shorten the time taken for recycling the used batteries and prevent the forgery of distribution history, thereby avoiding the illegal distribution in advance.

North Jeolla was selected as the ‘2019 blockchain pilot project for public sector’ region of KISA. They are developing blockchain-based app (tentative name: Jeonbuk Smart Tour) with a total project cost of 1 billion won and installing three kiosks and beacons in Jeonju hanok village. In addition, they have selected NH Nonghyup as the financial institution to operate Jeonbuk coin. From this year, Jeonbuk coin based on Glosper’s own blockchain technology will be issued in Jeonju hanok village and NH Nonghyup Bank will manage and settle the Jeonbuk coin.

An industry official said, “Last year, the local governments announced that they would start blockchain business in a declarative sense.”, “However, this year, the local governments, companies and financial firms are expected to focusing on planning substantiality.”

Hwang Byung-seo(2020.01.14) “미래 먹거리 잡아라” 지자체마다 블록체인 육성 경쟁
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