Analysis of the Success Factors of Living Lab in a Smart City with a Focus on Social Capital

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, modern society is evolving beyond an information society into a hyperconnected society, with the advancement of technology leading to the development of smart cities. According to Cohen (2015), the direction of smart city evolution is shifting from a technology-driven approach to a citizen co-creation model, and living labs play a crucial role in this transition. The objective of this study is to empirically analyze the success factors of living labs in smart cities using the citizen co-creation approach, focusing on social capital. Social capital is measured by variables such as interest, networks, trust, and norms, while the success factors of living labs are analyzed through variables like communication, democracy (conflict acceptance), and open innovation. The analysis results showed that, among the success factors of living labs, communication was positively influenced by trust, norms, and networks, with trust having the greatest impact. Democracy (conflict acceptance) was positively influenced by norms and interest, while open innovation was positively influenced by norms and interest as well. This study concludes that the formation of social capital is crucial for the success of living labs in smart cities following the citizen co-creation model. In particular, the formation of trust among neighbors, colleagues, national and local governments is vital. Additionally, adherence to laws, regulations, and community agreements, as well as interest in various local events and policies, are essential. Based on these findings, this study suggests that while smart cities may have originated from technology, they must ultimately be pursued based on people-centered participation, interest, and trust for sustainable development.