Smart Cities: It’s the Little Things That Matter Most

Lessons learned from the short trip to Korea

On my recent trip to South Korea for the World Smart Cities Expo, I couldn’t help but reflect on how deeply ingrained the concept of a citizen-centric smart city is in urban planning.

Walking through Incheon Airport, I was struck by the simple yet thoughtful services provided for the public, tourists, and commuters.

One such service, which may seem insignificant to some but symbolizes the essence of smart cities, is the availability of free charging stations.

Everywhere I looked, from the airport to bus stops and public areas, there were convenient charging stations for everyone. I sat down at one of these stations at Incheon Airport, plugged in my phone, and thought about how something so simple could add so much value to a person’s experience in a city.

“Why can’t we have something like this back home?” I mused to myself. Accessibility and convenience—these little things—are often overlooked when we think of smart cities. But in reality, they are what makes a city smart and citizen-friendly.

South Korea’s approach to smart cities goes beyond flashy technology or grand infrastructure projects. It focuses on its people's daily needs, which struck me the most during my trip.

As I attended different sessions and panels at the expo, this notion of citizen-centric solutions continued. The emphasis was on how smart city technologies could genuinely improve the quality of life for citizens. And these charging stations were just one small but vital example of that philosophy in action.

I remember sitting there, reflecting on how these little comforts truly matter. Imagine being a tourist or a local who’s been walking all day, your phone is about to die, and just as you’re worrying about losing your connection to the world, you spot one of these free charging stations.

It’s such a relief, isn’t it? This is the kind of convenience that makes people feel taken care of in their city.

Another experience that underscored South Korea’s dedication to citizen-centric smart cities happened when I hopped on one of their public buses. Even here, in a place where you’d expect the focus to be on transportation and efficiency, they had charging ports built into the seats.

As I sat there, watching people plug in their phones and continue with their day, I couldn’t help but admire how they’ve seamlessly integrated technology into the most ordinary aspects of life.

“This,” I thought, “is what a smart city is really about.” It’s not just about data, sensors, or even the Internet of Things (IoT) in their most advanced forms. It’s about understanding what people need daily and using technology to make their lives easier.

As the expo progressed, I attended a fascinating presentation on Japan’s latest trends in smart city development. The speaker highlighted something that resonated with me: Japan now focuses more on what it calls its citizens' “happiness index.” It has realized that while important, economic growth and business opportunities are not the only measures of a prosperous city.

Happiness, well-being, and the overall quality of life are now at the forefront of its smart city initiatives.

I sat there, thinking, “That’s brilliant.” Japan and South Korea are both moving beyond the traditional goals of smart cities – growth, efficiency, and economic success – and are now centering their attention on something far more meaningful: the happiness of their people.

Back in Malaysia, we often talk about smart cities in terms of technology adoption, infrastructure, and business growth

. But where are we when it comes to this citizen-centric approach? Are we thinking about the daily lives of our people and how we can use smart technologies to make their experience in the city better, more comfortable, more enjoyable?

I believe we’re still in the early stages of this journey. In our discussions about smart cities, we must start asking how we can solve everyday problems for the average citizen.

How can we improve their commute, access to services, or even something as simple as giving them a place to charge their phone while waiting for the bus?

This trip to South Korea and the insights shared at the World Smart Cities Expo opened my eyes to how far we still have to go.

But it also filled me with optimism.

If countries like Japan and South Korea can shift their focus to something as fundamental as the happiness of their citizens, then we can, too, start thinking in that direction.

As I wandered the expo, I began to understand how Favoriot, my company, could contribute to this shift.

We’ve focused heavily on the Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications in smart cities. But what if we, too, started thinking more about the citizen experience? How can IoT help improve efficiency, productivity, happiness, comfort, and quality of life?

I started to make mental notes. Public transportation could be equipped with smart technologies that ensure timely arrivals and departures and comfort and convenience for passengers.

Public spaces could be designed with IoT-enabled services that make life easier for people, whether providing real-time information on available services or simple things like ensuring access to free charging ports.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. A smart city isn’t just about the technology itself; it’s about how that technology serves the people living in it. And I believe that’s the future of smart cities.

As my trip to South Korea ended, I felt a renewed sense of purpose.

The World Smart Cities Expo had given me so much food for thought, and as I boarded my flight back home, I began outlining a plan for how we at Favoriot could contribute to this citizen-centric future.

We’ve always been at the forefront of IoT innovation, but now it’s time to start thinking more deeply about how we can help make cities in Malaysia smarter and more people-focused.

The free charging stations I encountered in South Korea may have been a small detail, but they encapsulated a much larger philosophy – one that I believe is crucial for the success of any smart city.

A city genuinely cares for its people and doesn’t just focus on economic growth or technological advancements. It focuses on improving everyday life, making it simpler and more enjoyable for its citizens.

As the plane took off, I thought that was the real promise of smart cities: a future where technology serves the people, not the other way around.