Eyes above the water: Seoul deploys physical AI to prevent Han River tragedies

Seoul is deploying a 2.8 billion won AI emergency response system along the Han River waterways to help prevent tragedies, with Banpo Bridge set for the first launch in November after an October pilot. The two-year project uses acoustic sensors, private 5G, multimodal AI and autonomous drones to detect distress and speed rescue. Officials said the system is meant to shorten response time for people in crisis.

Seoul said the project is backed by the Ministry of Science and ICT as a two-year national initiative.

The first deployment will be at Banpo Bridge, with a pilot in October and a full launch in November.

Fire department statistics showed 1,272 suicide attempts across the Han River’s 31 bridges in 2024.

The system uses 24 AI audio sensors on bridge pillars to detect abnormal sounds and locate a person within 10 meters.

An autonomous drone is designed to launch within 60 seconds, use thermal imaging, and drop a lifebuoy while illuminating the water with searchlights.

Published Sep 10, 2026 3:55 pm KST

Visitors rest near Banpo Bridge in Seocho District, Seoul, Aug. 11. Yonhap

Beneath the bridges that span the Han River, the sound of splashing water or a sharp scream can mean the difference between life and death. Korea’s capital is turning to cutting-edge technology to ensure those desperate calls for help do not go unheard.

As part of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a new 2.8 billion won ($2.1 million) initiative to deploy an artificial intelligence (AI) emergency response system along the city's waterways. Supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT, the two-year national project seeks to drastically narrow the critical response window for individuals in crisis along the river's iconic spans.

The high-tech lifesaver will debut at Banpo Bridge, a central landmark in Gangnam, with a full operational launch scheduled for November, following a pilot program in October.

The stakes could not be higher.

According to official fire department statistics, emergency crews recorded 1,272 suicide attempts across the Han River’s 31 bridges in 2024 alone. Surviving a fall into the powerful current hinges entirely on how fast help arrives.

To address the issue, the city is pairing acoustic AI with autonomous drones in a seamless four-stage rescue network.

First, 24 AI audio sensors affixed to bridge pillars will continuously monitor ambient noise, isolating abnormal sounds like screams, impacts or splashes to pinpoint the person's location within 10 meters. Within three seconds, data is transmitted over a private 5G network to 119 emergency dispatchers, CCTV monitoring hubs and automated drone stations.

Next, multimodal AI will fuse real-time audio analysis with live security camera feeds to supply summaries of the situation to human dispatchers.

Finally, an autonomous drone will launch within 60 seconds, using thermal imaging cameras to track the individual in the water before dropping a lifebuoy and illuminating the surface with searchlights.

Developed by a corporate tech consortium including Cranberry, Preneu and JD1, the physical AI ecosystem is designed to buy crucial minutes until human rescue units can arrive on the scene.

"While maintaining the Han River as a relaxing public space is vital, building a robust safety net so no one makes a tragic choice here is equally essential," said Park Jin-young, director of Seoul's Future Hangang Office.

The physical intervention complements Seoul’s wider mental health framework, which spans 24-hour crisis hotlines (109) and early-detection counseling services. Following the Banpo Bridge launch, municipal officials said they plan to refine the AI model for expansion across other high-traffic bridges in Korea.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, contact Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. For foreign language assistance with emergency services, call the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline, or call Danuri Portal's helpline at 1577-1366 to connect with multilingual counseling and referral services.

首尔正在汉江沿岸部署一套耗资28亿韩元的AI应急响应系统，旨在预防悲剧发生。该系统将于10月在盘浦大桥进行试点后，于11月率先投入使用。这项为期两年的项目利用声学传感器、私有5G网络、多模态人工智能和自主无人机来探测遇险情况并加快救援速度。官员表示，该系统的目的是缩短危机发生时人们的救援响应时间。

首尔方面表示，该项目是韩国科学技术信息通信部支持的一项为期两年的国家级计划。

首个部署地点将设在半浦大桥，10 月份进行试点，11 月份全面投入使用。

消防部门统计数据显示，2024 年汉江 31 座桥梁上共发生 1272 起自杀未遂事件。

该系统利用桥墩上的 24 个 AI 音频传感器来检测异常声音，并在 10 米范围内定位人员。

这款自主无人机设计用于在 60 秒内起飞，利用热成像技术投放救生圈，同时用探照灯照亮水面。

发布于2026年9月10日下午3:55（韩国标准时间）

8月11日，游客在首尔瑞草区盘浦大桥附近休息。（韩联社）

在横跨汉江的桥梁下，水花飞溅的声音或一声凄厉的呼救可能意味着生死之别。韩国首都首尔正借助尖端科技，确保这些绝望的求救信号不会被遗漏。

值此世界预防自杀日之际，首尔市政府宣布了一项耗资28亿韩元（约合210万美元）的新计划，旨在为首尔市的水道部署人工智能（AI）应急响应系统。这项为期两年的国家级项目得到了韩国科学技术信息通信部的支持，旨在大幅缩短在首尔江河标志性桥段上遭遇危机人员的关键响应时间窗口。

这款高科技救生设备将在江南区地标性建筑盘浦大桥首次亮相，在 10 月份进行试点项目后，计划于 11 月份全面投入运营。

事关重大。

根据消防部门官方统计，仅2024年一年，汉江31座桥梁上就发生了1272起自杀未遂事件。能否从湍急的江水中幸存，完全取决于救援人员能否及时赶到。

为了解决这个问题，该市将声学人工智能与自主无人机相结合，构建了一个无缝的四阶段救援网络。

首先，安装在桥墩上的24个AI音频传感器将持续监测环境噪音，识别异常声音，例如尖叫声、撞击声或水花声，从而将人员位置精确定位在10米以内。三秒内，数据将通过专用5G网络传输至119个紧急调度中心、闭路电视监控中心和无人机自动站。

接下来，多模态人工智能将实时音频分析与实时安全摄像头画面融合，为调度员提供情况概要。

最后，一架自主无人机将在 60 秒内升空，使用热成像摄像机跟踪水中的人，然后投放救生圈并用探照灯照亮水面。

该物理人工智能生态系统由包括 Cranberry、Preneu 和 JD1 在内的企业技术联盟开发，旨在为人类救援人员到达现场争取关键的几分钟。

“保持汉江作为休闲公共空间的地位固然重要，但建立健全的安全网，防止有人在这里做出悲剧性的选择也同样重要，”首尔未来汉江办公室主任朴镇永表示。

这项实体干预措施是对首尔更广泛的心理健康体系的补充，该体系涵盖24小时危机热线（109）和早期筛查咨询服务。在盘浦大桥项目启动后，市政府官员表示，他们计划完善人工智能模型，以便将其推广到韩国其他交通繁忙的桥梁。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。

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