Seongnam, South Korean City to Provide Citizenship Rights Through NFTs

Seongnam, the 12th most populated city in South Korea, is planning to recreate the city in the metaverse, and will issue non-fungible token (NFT) citizenships to give access to municipal information.

According to the local media reports, the local administration of Seongnam city anticipates creating a special metaverse city before the end of the first half of next year. The virtual city will allow residents to check municipal policy status using blockchain technology.

The city hopes the metaverse city will attract all generations, especially those born in the early 1980s to 2000s, who have grown up with digital media. Seongnam city will begin issuing NFTs in April next year before its virtual city launch in May.

Fast facts

• The city will finalize plans for the service by April 2023, and aims to start operations in the metaverse around May or June next year.

• The NFT citizenships, issued to promote the metaverse city, will grant citizens access to more municipal information. The Seongnam city government told Forkast more details on the platform and the NFTs will be decided in an upcoming meeting in October.

• The country’s capital city Seoul is also building a virtual city in the metaverse. It held a test opening of its virtual presence last month. 

• With a population of nearly one million residents, Seongnam is a satellite city of the country’s capital Seoul.