Ulsan City Accelerates Major Urban Development Projects Near Okdong

Relocation of Okdong Military Base and Improvement of Transportation System Underway

209 Public Parking Spaces Completed at Former Ulju County Office Site

Ulsan City is accelerating various development projects in the Okdong area of Nam-gu to strengthen urban functions and revitalize the local economy.

The ongoing projects include the Okdong Urban Regeneration Project, Okdong Intersection Traffic System Improvement Project, Olympus Golden Apartment Daegongwon-ro Expansion Project, and the relocation of the Okdong military base.

First, the Okdong Urban Regeneration Project is taking shape with detailed plans for each sub-project.

This project aims to revitalize the 62,250 square meters commercial district in the Okdong area, with a total investment of 23.4 billion KRW. Since 2019, the city has been simultaneously improving living infrastructure and nearby traffic systems.

The construction of a 209-space off-street parking lot and a 2,100 square meter urban garden public parking lot on the former Ulju County Office site is scheduled for completion this month. Once completed, the public parking lot is expected to improve the urban landscape of the long-abandoned former county office site, ease parking difficulties in the Okdong area, and revitalize the local commercial district.

The Ansim Eumgil Project, aimed at improving pedestrian access and creating an eco-friendly green environment, also began construction in January this year and is scheduled for completion in November, with construction progressing rapidly.

This project covers a 200-meter section from the main entrance roundabout of Ulsan Grand Park towards Hanshin Hue Plus intersection, and a 260-meter section towards the rear entrance of Daegongwon Hyundai Apartment.

The Okdong Community Complex Center is also in the architectural planning phase, aiming for completion in 2026. With a total project cost of 16.3 billion KRW, the four-story building with a total floor area of 2,488 square meters will house the Okdong Administrative Welfare Center, Youth Counseling Center, and Urban Regeneration Support Center.

Ulsan City is also pushing forward with the Okdong Intersection Traffic System Improvement Project. This project aims to alleviate the chronic traffic congestion on Munsu-ro and the expected congestion at Okdong Intersection when construction of Ulsan Urban Railway Line 1 begins (scheduled for 2026).

The project involves constructing a new 0.5 km (one to two lanes) connecting road for right turns from Munsu-ro (Gongeoptap) towards Iye-ro, Buk-gu direction (Namsan Tunnel), with an investment of 6.5 billion KRW. The city plans to begin the detailed design this month and complete the project before the start of the urban railway construction.

The 'Olympus Golden Apartment Daegongwon-ro Expansion Project' is also proceeding smoothly.

This area has long suffered from narrow roads, causing inconvenience for vehicles and concerns about student safety during school commutes, prompting many resident requests for road expansion.

In response, Ulsan City is investing 9 billion KRW to expand the current 0.32 km, two-lane road to three or four lanes. The detailed design will be completed in August, with compensation negotiations and construction starting in the second half of this year, aiming for completion by December next year.

The Okdong military base relocation project is also on track.

Ulsan City completed the 'Military Facility Relocation Agreement' with the Ministry of National Defense in June last year and received approval as the project operator in August, proceeding with the necessary administrative procedures.

Notably, on the 22nd of last month, the city received approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport for the management plan of the greenbelt area in Cheongnyang-eup, the relocation site for the Okdong military base, making it possible to proceed with the project.

Accordingly, Ulsan City plans to complete the basic and detailed designs by the end of this year and establish alternative military facilities in the Ulju-gun Cheongnyang-eup area by 2027, completing the relocation of the Okdong military base. In addition, the Okdong site will be developed with infrastructure such as roads, parks, parking lots, and community facilities, as well as apartment complexes, through an urban development project.

Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom stated, "To achieve balanced urban development in Ulsan, we will promote projects on the relocated Okdong military base site that allow citizens to enjoy culture and leisure together, and create a more convenient transportation environment in the Daegongwon area by improving the traffic system and constructing public parking lots. The former Ulju County Office site, where the public parking lot has been completed, is being considered for other uses in the mid- to long-term. We will prepare the optimal plan for revitalizing the Okdong area, taking into account the relocation of the Okdong military base and urban changes in Nam-gu and Okdong, so that living in Ulsan becomes a source of pride and provides a dignified and comfortable living environment."