Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, ninth from left in front row, poses with delegations of international city mayors and Seoul Smart City Prize winners after the ceremony at COEX Convention Center in Seoul, Oct. 10. Courtesy of WeGO

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and Cali, Colombia, were named top winners at the second Seoul Smart City Prize ceremony, hosted by the World Smart Sustainable Cities Organization (WeGO) at COEX Convention Center in Seoul on Oct. 10.

The mayors of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Arlington in Texas, and the Philippine cities of Baguio and Iligan were also recognized as top honorees during the event.

Launched in 2023 by WeGO and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Smart City Prize is an international award that celebrates innovation and excellence in smart city development. The prize highlights urban initiatives that focus on human-centric innovation and the use of cutting-edge technology to solve urban challenges.

The Seoul Smart City Prize received over 216 submissions from 58 countries, with 42 semi-finalists invited to the ceremony.

Winners were selected through a rigorous evaluation process led by Seoul National University's Center for International Development Evaluation and smart city experts.

WeGO acknowledged 21 cities, corporations, institutions and individuals across several categories for their exceptional contributions to smart urban development.

Baguio City in the Philippines earned the Human-CentriCity Gold Award for its inclusive and accessible health care system.

Reykjavik in Iceland was awarded the Tech-InnovaCity Gold Award for its innovative digital transformation of school services, streamlining processes and improving communication between educators, specialists and families.

The Leadership Prize went to Adanech Abiebie, mayor of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for her significant contributions to urban development and the well-being of the city's residents.

Additionally, the Human Corporation Award was presented to new WeGO member LG Electronics for its project titled "Nokia Arena Smart Stadium" in Tampere, Finland.

"We were impressed by the range of smart city projects globally, all embodying innovation and inclusivity," said Kim Jeong-kee, secretary general of WeGO.