Admin data from 65 websites auto-updated daily; AI now reads hangul documents, spreadsheets and images
Over 900 public services bookable through conversation; voice input and location-based features added
Seocho-gu in Seoul has completed an upgrade of "Seocho AI-jent," the nation's first AI Agent-powered administrative information chatbot, making it easier for residents to access public services and government information.
Seocho AI-jent allows residents to ask questions in natural language, with the AI locating relevant administrative information and supporting reservations for public services. The service goes beyond simple information retrieval — its AI Agent capability actively guides users through actual administrative processes and assists them in using those services.
The upgrade introduced six new capabilities: expansion of the administrative information learning scope, use of unstructured data including hangul documents, spreadsheets and images, enhanced source verification for answers, expanded public service booking, on-device voice input, and mobile location-based information. Together, these advances strengthen what the district calls an "AI administrative assistant" that handles everything from information search to service reservation in one place.
The scope of administrative information the AI learns from has been significantly broadened. Previously centered on the Seocho-gu website alone, the system now covers 65 websites — including those of affiliated and commissioned agencies — enabling the AI to automatically learn from 36,846 pages and 68,563 administrative data entries.
The AI checks each website daily for updates and automatically reflects any newly posted or revised content. Residents can now access a wider and more current range of administrative information through Seocho AI-jent without having to visit multiple agency websites individually.
The range of data formats the AI can process has also expanded. In addition to text-based content, the system now analyzes unstructured data — including hangul documents, various forms, spreadsheets, posters and images — to locate and present the administrative information users need.
Source verification has been strengthened to improve the reliability and transparency of responses. Rather than simply providing a link to a relevant webpage, the AI now visually highlights the exact location of the source material it referenced when generating an answer, allowing users to immediately confirm which part of a page the information came from.
The AI Agent booking capability has also been substantially expanded. In addition to the existing four services — free legal consultations, in-person civil affairs appointments, AI zone access and digital booth reservations — the system now supports bookings for Seocho-gu events and courses, bringing the total to more than 900 public services bookable through chatbot conversation. When a user requests "book me the earliest available slot," Seocho AI-jent finds a matching service and guides the user through the reservation process, eliminating the need to search and compare schedules separately.
Mobile usability has been improved as well. The newly introduced on-device voice input processes speech directly on the user's device rather than sending it to an external server, enabling more convenient use of the service without any external collection of voice data.
Mobile location and navigation features have also been integrated. When a user asks about a nearby public facility or service, the chatbot draws on the device's current location to provide relevant information and link directly to navigation, streamlining the entire process from inquiry to in-person visit.
Data security was a key focus of the upgrade. The system operates on a local on-premises server environment to minimize the risk of external leakage of administrative data and user information, and is designed not to store personal or sensitive information.
The central government is also pursuing a comprehensive AI Agent service called "Modu-ui AI" that goes beyond simple question-and-answer to support actual service use including reservations and payments. Amid that push, Seocho AI-jent has been operating as a locally specialized service that proactively applies AI Agent technology to district administration, seamlessly connecting residents to administrative information and public service bookings relevant to their daily lives.
The service's accuracy and reliability have been independently verified. Seocho AI-jent recorded a 97 percent answer accuracy rate in an AI quality certification test conducted by the Telecommunications Technology Association. The high accuracy was achieved even as the scope and volume of administrative information covered by the upgraded system expanded to roughly five times that of the previous version.
Usage has been consistent since launch. Since its debut in December last year, the chatbot has handled 26,000 inquiries over roughly nine months and operates around the clock, 365 days a year. Public institutions including the Ministry of Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local governments across the country have made benchmarking visits and submitted related inquiries.
Building on its operational experience with Seocho AI-jent, the district plans to set a standard for reliable AI chatbot services in public administration and to improve residents' access to administrative information and public services.
Seocho AI-jent is accessible through the Seocho-gu website, the Seocho Smart City app or its dedicated website.
Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said Seocho AI-jent has advanced beyond a generative AI that simply answers questions into an "AI administrative assistant" that proactively finds and presents administrative information and supports residents in using public services. "We will continue to develop Seocho AI-jent so that more residents can easily and conveniently access the administrative information and services they need," he said.
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
