The Mivo Project
A solution to the mental health epidemic of Seoul, South Korea
In South Korea, a mental health and digital epidemic is occurring. Suicide is the leading cause of death at 39% in adolescents and young adults (Hong, 2011). Smartphone and internet addiction has risen by almost 12% between 2022 to 2024 in Seoul, South Korea (National Institute of Mental Health). The government has called for social change and a push for mental well-being.
40.2%
suffer from prolonged depression in Seoul. This is a 10.2% increase from 2022 to 2024. (National Institue of Mental Health)
The Scientific Report conducted a study on the correlation between health and well-being with the amount of time one spends outside. They found that those who live in greener areas are “associated with lower probabilities of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, asthma hospitalization, mental distress, and ultimately mortality,” (White, 2019). They found that “populations in high-income, largely urbanized, societies,” greatly benefitted more from outdoor time (White, 2019).
Connect urban populations to their local green space.
81.3%
0%
of the surveyed population who live in Seoul currently are unsatisfied with the amount of time the spend outside.
Jongmin receives a notification from the Mivo app that his phone is low on battery.
of the surveyed group meet the recommended amount of time to spend outside to gain health benefits.
Jongmin places his phone into a slot.
He clicks into the app to find the closest station.
As his phone charges, he decides to people watch and look around this park.
Permissionless community
How might we disconnect the overwhelmed population of Seoul from their devices and promote outdoor activity for better mental health and well-being?
More accessible electricity.
Improve health and mental well-being.
Process video. 4:11 min.
Clean energy.
Local co-existence
Increase time spent outside.
He starts navigation towards a station.
His phone notifies him that it’s at sufficient battery levels.
Year: 2024
Duration: 10 weeks
He arrives to the station and find an available slot to put his phone into.
He picks up his phone to see the Mivo app notification.
Reliable connectivity
The Mivo Project
The Mivo stations will be installed in various parks, waterfronts, and outdoor athletic courts around the city of Seoul. Locals can charge their phones for free while waiting or in need. The design makes it so the phone is still visible, but hard for users to still use it. This is an effort to get the urban population of Seoul of their phones and bring them into the outdoor space that these stations are in.
The stations are primarily made out of carbon negative concrete with glass lenses for the solar panel and LED lights. The station also serves as a pathway light.
The Mivo app’s primary function is to guide users to the stations. If users want to dive deeper into the Mivo world, they can sign up for an account to gain various rewards, track how much time they’re spending outside or explore the green spaces of Seoul. Link to the full app case study: https://www.morgannguyen.com/the-mivo-project-app-casestudy
