Ulsan City "Prevents Uncontrolled Development"... First Growth Management Plan Established by a Non-Capital Region Local Government

Concerns Over Unregulated Development in 38 Planned Management Areas Targeted

Industrial and Complex Zones Classified Starting January 27 Next Year

Ulsan City is establishing and implementing a growth management plan for an area equivalent to 350 soccer fields to prevent indiscriminate development in planned management zones.

On the 4th, Ulsan City announced that it has designated and officially notified 38 areas at risk of indiscriminate development, including the Cheongok-dong area in Buk-gu and the Hwalcheon-ri area in Duseo-myeon, Ulju-gun, as growth management plan zones, with enforcement starting from January 27, 2024.

Due to the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the National Land Planning Act in January 2021, from next year, the establishment of factories or manufacturing facilities in planned management zones will be restricted and only allowed in a limited manner if the local government has established a growth management plan.

The areas designated and notified as growth management plan zones total 38 locations, including 34 in Ulju-gun and 4 in Buk-gu, covering an area equivalent to 350 soccer fields.

To prevent indiscriminate development and ensure systematic management in these areas, Ulsan City plans to classify management types into industrial and complex types and encourage voluntary citizen participation through an incentive system.

Regarding management types, 27 locations where the ratio of factories and manufacturing facilities is 50% or more, requiring support for industrial and production activities and rational placement of industrial functions, are classified as ‘industrial type,’ while 11 locations with less than 50% are classified as ‘complex type,’ where residential environment creation is necessary.

Key benefits include exemption from urban planning committee review during development activities, and if conditions such as infrastructure, building use, and environmental management are met, the building coverage ratio can be increased from 40% to 50%, and the floor area ratio from 100% to 125%.

An official from Ulsan City explained, “Although the establishment of growth management plans is a task delegated to district and county offices, Ulsan City took the initiative to directly establish the plan to proactively respond to institutional changes and unify the plan, becoming the first non-metropolitan local government to do so.”

He added, “In line with recent developments such as Ulsan City’s selection as a national advanced strategic industry secondary battery specialized complex and designation as an urban convergence special zone, we will do our best to attract even one more company or factory.”