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Busan City to Develop Pilot AI-Based Administrative Services for Citizens through AI Learning Groups

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) has officially launched a project to develop pilot AI-based administrative services for the public through its "AI Learning Group for Public Officials" (hereafter “learning group”).

Unlike conventional training programs, this learning group is a hands-on project in which civil servants independently plan and implement practical services that benefit citizens.

The group will be operated from May to July 2025, with 10 sessions held twice a week on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings (7–9 p.m.) at the city hall’s fifth-floor information technology training room. Approximately 35 civil servants with prior AI experience will participate, forming collaborative teams of three to four members.

Overview of the AI Learning Group for Busan City Officials

• ●Participants: Approximately 35 public officials (with AI application skills) who wish to develop public AI services

• ●Schedule: Twice a week (Tuesdays and Wednesdays), 7:00–9:00 p.m., May–July 2025 (10 sessions total)

• ●Venue: Information Technology Training Room, 5th Floor, Busan City Hall

• ●Group structure: Small groups of 3–4 members

• ●Facilitators: Lead discussions and moderate sessions

• ●Format: Hackathon-style idea generation and prototype development per topic

• ●Examples: Chatbots for automated complaint classification, AI-based civil service guidance, lifestyle information recommendation apps

• ●Output goal: Outstanding cases eligible for submission to the Government Innovation Contest hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety

The primary goal of the learning group is to create AI-based administrative services that offer tangible convenience to citizens, culminating in working prototypes. Participants will follow a hackathon-style format—collaboratively generating ideas and turning them into prototypes. Topics include AI-driven civil complaint classification chatbots, AI guides for the city website, and apps recommending local lifestyle information.

In particular, the program emphasizes not just functionality but also the development and standardization of generative AI prompts. Outstanding prompts created by each group will be compiled into a city-level casebook, which will serve as a guideline for future AI applications.

Prompt: A command or instruction input into a generative AI system, such as a question or directive.

The prototypes will be submitted to an internal AI competition for city employees and to the Government Innovation Contest hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. High-performing outcomes may also be piloted as public-facing services.

Through this project, the city aims to enhance public officials’ practical skills and develop innovative administrative service models rooted in digital technologies, thus accelerating “AI-driven administrative innovation.”

The results of the pilot project will be analyzed and expanded into various areas such as AI-based civil service response, policy planning, and information provision. Busan also plans to share best practices with local governments nationwide.

Cho Young-tae, Director General of the Administrative Management Bureau, stated, “This AI learning group is more than just a training course; it is a participatory innovation model in which civil servants take the lead in planning and implementation. We believe this initiative will lead to citizen-centered services and serve as a turning point in strengthening the city’s smart administrative capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Busan City will hold a special lecture on May 23 at 3 p.m. in the City Hall Grand Auditorium under the theme of “Leading AI Innovation in Public Administration.” The lecture will be delivered by Ha Jung-woo, Head of the NAVER Cloud AI Innovation Center.

This special session is expected to enhance public officials’ understanding of AI and explore practical approaches to AI applications tailored to the public sector.