Ulsan City Holds 'Price Stabilization Measures Meeting' ... Maintains Public Utility Fee Freeze Policy

Discussion on Measures to Stabilize Shopping Cart Prices and More

Ulsan City Hall.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hwang Du-yeol] Ulsan City is preparing a plan to quickly stabilize the rapidly rising local prices in cooperation with its five districts and counties.

On the 18th, the city will hold the 2nd Price Stabilization Measures Meeting of 2022 at the City Hall International Conference Room to discuss the progress of price crisis response measures by sector, such as local public utility fees and grocery price stabilization, as well as the establishment of an efficient cooperation system among agencies.

The meeting will be chaired by the head of the Small and Medium Venture Business Division of Ulsan City and attended by a total of 13 people, including officials in charge of public utility fees from the city and economic department officials from the five districts and counties.

At the meeting, they will share trends in public utility fees to stabilize local public utility fees and discuss effective fee stabilization measures together.

As Ulsan’s consumer price inflation rate reached 4.8%, the highest since the 2008 financial crisis, severely threatening the economy of ordinary citizens, the city has decided to maintain a freeze policy on public utility fees as much as possible, but if a fee increase is inevitable, to minimize the increase and stagger the timing.

The meeting will analyze the factors for increases in each public utility fee and discuss the timing and extent of future increases.

Ulsan City will also check grocery prices.

After reviewing the performance and overall operation of the ‘Comprehensive Price Stabilization Situation Room’ and the ‘Price Stabilization Task Force,’ which have been operating since January this year, the city will report future plans for price stabilization by each agency.

Opinions from each agency will also be collected regarding the expansion of the selection of ‘Good Price Businesses’ and strengthening support measures as part of support plans for small business owners.

‘Good Price Businesses’ are establishments selected for their affordable prices, clean hygiene, and excellent service, and once selected, they receive benefits such as badge attachment, support for volume-based waste bags, and year-round promotion on public websites.

Currently, 104 establishments in Ulsan are designated as ‘Good Price Businesses.’

In addition, the city is making efforts to reduce the burden on citizens by adjusting the extent and timing of fee increases through the ‘Price Countermeasure Committee,’ composed of civic groups, experts, and public officials, for public utility fees determined by local governments such as water and sewage fees, bus and taxi fares.

To guarantee citizens’ right to know and improve access to price information, price information is disclosed twice a month on the websites of major local markets and marts.

A city official said, “Price stabilization is a matter directly related to citizens’ lives and is recognized as the most important and urgent issue. We will do our utmost to achieve stability in ordinary households by joining forces not only with the administration but also with small business owners and consumer organizations.”