Innovative Strategies for Smart City Growth for Saudi Arabia: A Lesson from South Korea’s Evolving Urban Policies

This study examines South Korea’s evolution from the early U-City model to more holistic smart city frameworks and considers their implications for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Korea’s experience shows a shift from technology-driven initiatives to citizen-centered, sustainable, and culturally embedded approaches, while also exposing limitations such as fragmented services and weak citizen engagement. By analyzing policies such as the Smart City Act (2017) and the Korean New Deal (2020), the research highlights the importance of integrating infrastructure, regeneration, and cultural participation in planning. A review of international models, such as Europe’s “15-minute city,” further emphasizes the importance of human-scale design and inclusivity. Methodologically, the study synthesizes literature, government reports, and policy documents to identify 18 strategic directions across social, technological, environmental, and economic domains. Findings confirm that true smart city innovation requires cultural integration, emotional engagement, and open governance. For Saudi Arabia, these lessons support the creation of globally competitive megaprojects that align technology, sustainability, and human experience.