When residents activate the Anshimi app and walk past a smart light late at night, the lamp brightens automatically — and can instantly alert authorities in an emergency. During late-night hours (11 p.m. to 5 a.m.), brightness dims to 50–80 percent of maximum to save energy, reduce light pollution and protect residents' sleep.
Jongno-gu will install smart street lights in alleyways across the district by October to create safer, better-lit routes for residents walking home at night.
About 60 locations within the district, including Hyehwa-dong, are targeted this year. The district plans to replace aging fixtures with eco-friendly LED lights and add new two-way smart street lights.
The smart lights work in tandem with the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Anshimi safety app. When a pedestrian downloads the app, activates the late-night safe-return service and walks near one of the lights, the lamp automatically brightens to illuminate the dark path ahead.
In an emergency, users can send an instant alert to the Jongno-gu Integrated Control Center through the app. The street lights near the person reporting the incident will flash, allowing police to pinpoint the location quickly.
Staff in the district's street-light management division can also monitor and maintain the lights remotely via computer or mobile phone at any time, minimizing disruptions caused by malfunctions.
Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the lights automatically dim to between 50 and 80 percent of their maximum brightness, contributing to energy savings, reduced light pollution and better sleep for residents.
Jongno-gu completed installation of about 470 smart street lights in Gyonam-dong and Sungin 2-dong in 2024, followed by more than 350 units in the Nusang-dong and Yeongeon-dong areas in 2025.
District Mayor Yoo Chan-jong said the installation work would be finished by October, adding that the district would prioritize expanding the smart lights in areas with high concentrations of single-person households and other locations where crime prevention is most needed.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
