Ansan’s GovTech Initiative: Making Public Services More Accessible
Ansan City and Hello Friends launched their AI public service project at a kickoff meeting (착수보고회) to improve foreign residents’ access to administrative inform…
Local governments are often the first point of contact between residents and public services. From understanding administrative procedures to finding the right information, people rely on local authorities to help them navigate everyday needs.
But what happens when local governments work with technology startups to improve these services?
Ansan City’s collaboration with Hello Friends offers a practical example. The project was introduced at a kickoff meeting (착수보고회) hosted by Ansan City, where officials and project partners discussed developing and testing an AI based administrative service for foreign residents. Through this GovTech project, the city is combining public sector knowledge with private sector technology to address a specific community need. [1][2][3]
Mayor Lee Min-geun, city officials, and representatives from Hello Friends Co., Ltd. at the project kick-off meeting.
What Is the Ansan AI Kiosk?
Ansan City and Hello Friends are developing an AI chatbot and kiosk service to help foreign residents access administrative information in 28 languages. The project uses more than 100,000 consultation records, along with administrative data, laws, and manuals, to provide relevant responses to residents’ inquiries. [2][3]
The service applies Retrieval Augmented Generation, or RAG, technology. In simple terms, RAG allows an AI system to retrieve relevant information from selected sources before generating a response. This can help the service provide answers based on administrative information rather than relying only on the model’s general knowledge. [2][3]
The kiosk provides another way for residents to access the service in person. Its deployment at the Ansan Immigration Center brings the technology closer to foreign residents who may need guidance on administrative procedures. [1]
What Could It Mean for Foreign Residents?
For foreign residents, accessing public services can sometimes involve language barriers, unfamiliar procedures, or difficulty finding the right information.
A multilingual AI service could make it easier to understand administrative guidance and identify the next steps in a process. Instead of searching through different websites or trying to find the right office, residents may be able to ask questions in their preferred language and receive relevant information. [2][3]
The project is intended to make administrative information more accessible. Its actual impact will depend on how accurately it responds, how easy it is to use, and whether residents find it helpful during real interactions.
A self-service kiosk at the Ansan Immigration Center
How Can Other Local Governments Follow a Similar Approach?
The Ansan case offers several practical lessons for local governments interested in developing AI public services.
Start with a clear public need. Ansan’s project focuses on a specific challenge: helping foreign residents access administrative information across language barriers. Defining the problem first helps ensure that technology addresses a real service gap.
Work with companies that have relevant expertise. Local governments understand their residents and administrative processes, while technology companies can contribute technical capabilities. A partnership can bring these strengths together.
Use reliable and relevant information. Public service AI needs access to accurate administrative data, laws, and guidance. Ansan’s use of consultation records and official information illustrates the importance of grounding responses in relevant sources. [2][3]
Test the service in real settings. The project was selected through the 2026 GovTech AI demonstration and commercialization support program, which provides companies with opportunities to demonstrate technologies in the public sector. Ansan and Hello Friends are developing and testing the service through this initiative. [2]
For other local governments, this approach offers a way to explore AI solutions without treating technology adoption as an end in itself. The focus remains on the service residents need and how the solution performs in practice.
A Practical Example of GovTech
GovTech brings government and technology together to improve public services. The Ansan and Hello Friends project demonstrates how this can work at the local level: a city identifies a public service challenge, a technology company helps develop a solution, and the service is tested in a real environment. [2][3]
For local governments, collaboration with startups can create opportunities to experiment with new approaches and respond to community needs. For technology companies, public service provides a space to apply AI to practical challenges beyond commercial applications.
The project was formally introduced at a kickoff meeting (착수보고회) hosted by Ansan City, where officials and project partners discussed the development and demonstration of the AI based administrative service. [1] The Ansan case is still developing, but it highlights an important idea: AI public services are not built by technology alone. They require cooperation between government, technology providers, and the communities they are intended to serve.
Keep reading the GoBridge blog for more insights into how technology and collaboration can make public services more accessible. If you’re in Ansan, visit the Ansan Immigration Center and give the AI-powered kiosk a try!
Bibliography
[1] Seoul Ilbo. Article on the Ansan and Hello Friends AI kiosk.
https://www.seoulilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=846255
[2] Yonhap News Agency. “Ansan to develop AI chatbot for foreign residents’ civil service inquiries, supporting 26 languages.” June 10, 2026.
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260610046400061
[3] Ansan City. “Ansan to develop AI administrative service for foreign residents.” August 19, 2026.
[4] Maeil Business Newspaper. Report on Ansan’s AI chatbot project for foreign residents.
https://stock.mk.co.kr/news/view/1101776
[5] Kyeonggi Ilbo. Article related to Ansan’s AI administrative service project.
https://www.kyeonggi.com/article/20260819580084
