Bhutan GMC: A Korean Smart City Technology Transfer Project
GMC (Gelephu Mindfulness City) is a new city initiative led by the Bhutanese government that benchmarks Korean smart city technologies. The three presentation decks cover urban infrastructure design, an integrated ICT platform, and energy and mobility management systems based on the Korean smart city model, while also outlining a regional expansion strategy for South Asia. KOTRA Dhaka supports the initiative as a regional hub.
PT 1: Urban Infrastructure Master Plan
The first deck presents GMC's urban infrastructure master plan. Drawing on the Korean experience of Sejong City and Songdo International Business District, it proposes methodologies for designing roads, water and wastewater systems, power networks, and communications infrastructure. A key theme is environmentally responsible city planning that respects Bhutan's natural landscape and cultural context.
| Infrastructure | Korean Model | GMC Application | Korean Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roads | Smart roads and BRT | Eco-friendly mobility | H Co., D Co. |
| Water | Smart water management | Water-saving design | K-water |
| Power | Smart grid | 100% renewable energy | K-electric |
| Telecom | 5G and IoT | Digital twin | 코리아텔레콤, S코리아텔레콤 |
| Waste | Automated collection | Zero-waste system | S Environment |
PT 2: Integrated ICT Platform
The second deck focuses on the design of GMC's integrated ICT platform. Based on the Korean integrated operations center (IOC) model for smart cities, it proposes a platform that can manage urban traffic, energy, safety, and environmental data through a unified control architecture.
PT 3: Energy and Mobility Management Systems
South Asia Expansion Strategy
Based on the prospective success of the GMC project, the decks suggest an expansion path into South Asian smart city markets including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. KOTRA Dhaka is presented as a regional gateway that can support Korean smart city companies in identifying projects, partners, and market-entry opportunities.