| SKT and IFEZ Sign MOU to Establish 5G-Based Autonomous Driving Infrastructure
| Establish 5G infrastructure and HD maps across an area 45 times the size of Yeouido
First Introduction of 5G-based HD Map Real-time Updates

SK Telecom announced on the 29th that it will build the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) into a 5G smart city.

The Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) was designated by the government in 2003 as the country's first free economic zone to facilitate free investment and business activities by global companies and foreigners. IFEZ provides benefits such as tax breaks and free land leases to companies and universities, and currently, Celltrion and Yonsei University are located there.

Park Jin-hyo, Head of SK Telecom’s ICT Technology Center, and Kim Jin-yong, Head of IFEZ, signed a 'Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of 5G-based Autonomous Driving Infrastructure and the Development of Related Industries' at the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority in Songdo-dong, Incheon on the 29th.

Both sides agreed to cooperate to transform the Incheon Free Economic Zone into a 5G smart city by establishing 5G-based autonomous driving infrastructure and fostering related industries, creating an IFEZ 'Startup Venture Polis', and building a data hub.


First Introduction of 5G-based HD Map Real-time Updates
SK Telecom plans to build HD maps across the entire Incheon Free Economic Zone (132.9㎢), which is 45 times the size of Yeouido, including Cheongna and Yeongjong districts, starting with the construction of a 5G-based HD map in Songdo International City within this year.

HD maps, or ultra-high precision maps, are maps specifically designed for autonomous vehicles that provide spatial information with centimeter-level precision to enable safe operation. HD maps contain all the spatial information necessary for autonomous driving, such as lane information, road gradient, speed limits, and road surface conditions, and are considered the 'final puzzle piece' for Level 4 or higher autonomous driving.

Level 4 is the stage where fully autonomous driving is possible among the 6 levels (0 to 5) of autonomous driving by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). When this level is reached, the vehicle can reach its destination on its own without driver intervention.

In particular, the HD map being built this time enables safe autonomous driving by reflecting sudden changes in road conditions, such as traffic accidents and potholes, in real time through the 5G network.

'Dynamic Data Platform,' a 5G-based real-time HD map update solution developed by SK Telecom, updates road condition information in real time through multi-functional ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) terminals installed on city buses, government vehicles, etc.

To this end, SK Telecom plans to build customized 5G infrastructure optimized for autonomous driving environments by October.


Presenting the future of 5G smart cities, including autonomous driving, data hubs, and venture polis.
Both parties plan to expand and develop the Incheon Free Economic Zone into a 5G smart city. First, they will establish a data hub capable of systematically managing and analyzing floating population data in Songdo, Cheongna, and Yeongjong International Cities. Once the data hub is completed, transportation policies, such as the expansion of public transportation networks, will be implemented efficiently based on floating population data.

In addition, both parties will establish a 'Startup Venturepolis' in Songdo International City. The Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority plans to collaborate with SK Telecom to introduce 5G-based smart offices to Venturepolis and foster startups in the ICT sector in conjunction with the SKT True Innovation program.

Park Jin-hyo, Head of SK Telecom’s ICT Technology Center, said, “The core of 5G is infinite scalability based on ultra-high speed and ultra-connectivity,” adding, “Starting with the construction of a 5G-based HD map in Songdo International City, SK Telecom will present the future of 5G-based mobility and smart cities.”

Kim Jin-yong, Commissioner of the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority, stated, “This agreement establishes a public-private partnership for projects aimed at creating jobs in Incheon alongside the advancement of the IFEZ smart city,” adding, “IFEZ will work together with SK Telecom to contribute to the development of the smart city.”