Mind the gaps in Korean smart cities: A bibliographic analysis of academic and media narratives on the socio-technical challenges of implementation in South Korea

초록

As the definitions, objectives, and directions of smart cities evolve, fundamental questions arise regarding how the concept is framed, debated, and implemented. While the term "smart city" is widely recognized across academia and the media, its interpretations vary significantly depending on the context. This study empirically examines how the concept has been perceived and utilized over the past two decades by comparing its representations in academic research and news articles. Using social network analysis, this study analyzes cooccurrence networks of keywords extracted from academic and media sources to identify thematic trends and gaps. The findings reveal that news coverage on smart cities surged in 2018, with academic publications following in 2019, highlighting an unconventional trajectory where media discourse preceded and influenced research discussions. Academic research emphasizes governance, urban sustainability, and socio-technical regimes while media narratives primarily focus on economic growth, technological innovation, and governmentled projects, while A distinctive characteristic of South Korea's smart city policy is its conceptualization of smart cities as exportable package products that encompass urban planning, technology, and solutions. This strategy echoes the developmental state model of the past but expands beyond traditional industrial exports. By revealing the gaps between academic and media narratives, this study underscores the role of socio-technical regimes in shaping smart city policies and calls for greater attention to environmental sustainability, citizen participation, and governance innovation in smart city development.

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