Member of Parliament Park Jeong-soo: “The Smart Innovation Department Must Break Down Silos Between Departments and Become a Data Control Tower”

Park Jeong-soo, a member of the Incheon Yeonsu District Council (People Power Party, Okryeon 1, Dongchun 1, 2), emphasised during the Smart Innovation Department's major work report held on the 2nd that the newly established Smart Innovation Department should not merely resolve current issues but should take on the role of a ‘data control tower’ leading inter-departmental collaboration. He sharply pointed out that if a clear identity is not established in the early stages of the department's establishment, inefficiencies may arise due to overlapping duties with the existing safety management department.

In particular, Park expressed concern that the ground investigation and facility safety management tasks included in the work report make the Smart Innovation Department appear more like a typical safety inspection department rather than focusing on innovation using information and communication technology (ICT). He clarified that the purpose of the department's existence is not merely to introduce equipment but to integrate scattered district data to provide practical policy solutions.

As a specific example of collaboration, Park presented the ‘Commercial Vacancy Management Ordinance’ he proposed. He stated, “If the Economic and Industrial Department is considering revitalising the commercial district, the Smart Innovation Department must establish governance to systematically datafy the status of commercial vacancies,” emphasising that building a data linkage platform that breaks down silos between departments will be a key infrastructure for supporting small businesses.

In response, Park Jeong-soo, the head of the Smart Innovation Department, stated, “As a newly established department, we are clearly coordinating the scope of work with relevant departments such as the Safety Management Department,” and added, “We will strengthen the inter-departmental collaboration system to ensure that the information directly related to people's livelihoods, such as the commercial vacancy data proposed by MP Park, can operate organically within the smart city platform.”