What: The Korean capital city is the first one to enter the Metaverse with a selection of services that can help in real life.

Why it is important: There is a first entry dividend in entering the Metaverse quickly, and department stores should take note.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced it was planning to enter the Metaverse by creating a virtual ecosystem for all areas of its administration.

It is expected to be completed by 2023 as part of South Korea’s Digital New Deal and will feature a virtual city hall with “avatar public officials” which will consult members of the public and allow them to engage with the government in ways currently only available in the physical city hall, such as making complaints.

Services for the socially vulnerable (safety, convenience) will also be available. Finally, a Virtual Tourist Zone will engage prospective visitors by introducing them to virtual reproductions of the city’s tourist destination and landmarks. Finally, festivals, such as the Seoul Lantern Festival, will also be held virtually, extending the audience to potentially the whole world.

Seoul will be the first city to enter the metaverse