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Following its selection for a Ministry of Science and ICT open call project, Gyeongju City has decided to invest a total of 1.8 billion KRW over two years to build an "AI-based Extended Reality (XR) Convergence Service." This project begins with the precise acquisition of 3D spatial data for Gyeongju’s iconic historical landmarks, such as Cheomseongdae, Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, and the Hwangnyongsa Temple site. Tourists will be able to use their personal smartphones to recognize their location and surroundings on-site, allowing them to intuitively access customized historical stories and cultural heritage information in real-time. This is more than just information delivery; it is an attempt to vividly recreate the brilliant past of Gyeongju by overlaying it onto the present space using XR technology. The project, a collaboration between an industry-academic-research consortium including the Gyeongju Smart Media Center, DeepFine, and Kumoh National Institute of Technology, is expected to be a key driver in securing Gyeongju’s unique tourism competitiveness by applying technological innovation to tourism services.

Alongside technological leaps, Gyeongju City has prioritized the advancement of safety infrastructure to protect the lives and property of its citizens. As a city that previously experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake, securing the seismic performance of private buildings is a core task directly linked to the city's survival, going beyond mere recommendation. To this end, the city is promoting a "Private Building Seismic Performance Evaluation Cost Support Project," offering up to 30 million KRW per building to alleviate the financial burden of evaluations. However, unauthorized buildings or illegal extensions are strictly excluded from support to enhance the transparency of architectural administration and encourage the creation of a safe building environment. Those selected through a review committee in July will receive objective safety evaluations from experts, and the resulting seismic reinforcement data will be used as foundational material to minimize damage in future earthquakes.

As much as the city's outward development, software-based policies that foster daily happiness and a sense of community among citizens are also notable. At the recent 19th Gyeongju Citizens' Day commemorative event, approximately 7,000 citizens gathered under the slogan "United Gyeongju, Unstoppable Progress" to unite their will for regional development. The event went beyond a simple ceremony, providing spectacular sights using cutting-edge technology such as drone shows and LED performances to instill pride in citizens, while also confirming the value of the community through awards for those who contributed to regional development. Additionally, the "Midnight Book Garden" scheduled for mid-month will center around Gyeongju Culture Center 1918, establishing a nighttime reading culture that blends books, music, and hands-on experiences, providing a complex cultural space where citizens can enjoy leisure in the heart of the city.

Gyeongju City's administration is systematically operated around two pillars: public-private cooperation and voluntary citizen participation. Immediately after the launch of the 9th popularly elected administration, Mayor Joo Nak-young presided over meetings with bureau and department heads, ordering the rapid promotion of pending projects such as post-APEC initiatives, the relocation of the Agricultural Technology Center, and the creation of the Angang e-Mobility Industrial Complex. This is an expression of a strong will not to lose growth momentum after Gyeongju’s leap into an international tourism city. Furthermore, the donation culture of famous local figures is adding warmth to the local community. The fact that trot singer Lee Soo-yeon consistently donates to local child welfare facilities, forming a virtuous cycle where citizens and celebrities together care for neighbors in need, is another strength of Gyeongju.

The wind and flood insurance support policy for disaster prevention also demonstrates how carefully Gyeongju City approaches citizen safety. The city is implementing a project to subsidize insurance premiums to practically compensate for property damage caused by routine weather disasters such as typhoons, heavy rain, heavy snow, and earthquakes. By setting a broad coverage range that includes not only general homes but also industrial sites like shops, factories, and greenhouses, the city is creating an environment where citizens can engage in their livelihoods with peace of mind. In particular, the city is weaving a tight social safety net by fully subsidizing insurance premiums for vulnerable groups. These series of policies show that if disasters are unavoidable, having a system to minimize damage and recover quickly is what truly defines a smart city.