The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is an international award honouring outstanding achievements in the creation of liveable, vibrant and sustainable urban communities around the world.

"Seoul once appeared as a city drowning in problems beyond solutions. Amazingly, strong creative leadership, building on deep citizen engagement and data-driven solutions, managed to turn things around. This mega city now leads the way in delivering inclusive, dynamic and forward-looking urban solutions.

"It is a truly worthy recipient of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize," said the nominating committee's chairman, Professor Kishore Mahbubani.

Seoul overcame challenges such as rapid urbanisation and the task of providing for a booming car-based society by introducing projects that repurposed urban infrastructure and engaging citizen participation in day-to-day operations.

Crediting Seoul's citizens for the win, Mayor Park Won Soon said: "I believe that this award is a recognition of the citizens of Seoul's retrospection of the past and insight into the future in order to make Seoul a 'meta-polis'."

The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize comprises an award certificate, a gold medallion and a cash prize of $300,000, sponsored by Keppel Corporation. It is a highlight of the upcoming World Cities Summit, which will be held at Marina Bay Sands from July 8 to 12.