Exemption Confirmed for Preliminary Feasibility Study on Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex... Acceleration of 추진
National Industrial Complex and Hydrogen City Create Synergistic Complementary Roles
"From a population of 46,000 to 100,000, from a regional gross production of 2 trillion to 11 trillion," this is the 2040 future blueprint envisioned by Uljin-gun.
The key to future growth driving this goal is "hydrogen."
Gyeongbuk Uljin-gun is actively promoting the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex project and the Uljin-gun Hydrogen City project to lead the energy transition and leap forward as a center of the clean hydrogen economy.
These two projects play a pivotal role in establishing Uljin-gun as a clean energy hub and are expected to become important milestones in achieving South Korea's carbon neutrality goals.
◆ Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex Project
The Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex project to be developed in the Jukbyeon-myeon area of Uljin-gun involves a total investment of 387.1 billion KRW to create a national industrial complex covering 460,000 pyeong (approximately 1.52 million square meters).
The project aims to build a specialized base for large-scale clean hydrogen production using nuclear power and to establish a full-cycle hydrogen industry ecosystem.
The national industrial complex is scheduled to host 10 anchor companies including GS Construction, Hyundai Engineering, Lotte Chemical, GS Energy, Samsung E&A, SK Ecoplant, Hyosung Heavy Industries, DL E&C, SK D&D, and BHI, along with 82 small and medium-sized enterprises. Through large-scale clean hydrogen production, it is expected to contribute to strengthening national energy security and realizing carbon neutrality.
On June 28, the preliminary feasibility study for the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex project was finally exempted.
Among the 15 newly designated national industrial complex candidate sites last year, this is the first exemption of the preliminary feasibility study in a regional area. After the national industrial complex plan was approved at the Cabinet meeting on June 18, the exemption was finalized within just 10 days.
This recognition by the government confirms that the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex has sufficient demand for occupancy and significant economic ripple effects, and it is expected to shorten the construction start period by about 3 to 4 years.
◆ Uljin-gun Hydrogen City Project
Selected as the final candidate for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 3rd phase hydrogen city, Uljin-gun plans to invest a total of 40 billion KRW in the area near the national industrial complex to actively promote the hydrogen city project centered around the national industrial complex.
The hydrogen city project, led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, is a city-level initiative to expand hydrogen infrastructure and utilize hydrogen in daily life as part of revitalizing the hydrogen economy and achieving carbon neutrality.
Accordingly, the county plans to supply hydrogen produced at hydrogen production facilities to hydrogen charging stations for hydrogen mobility (hydrogen buses and hydrogen passenger cars), provide electricity and heat to companies located in industrial complexes through hydrogen fuel cell installations, and gradually replace existing city buses with hydrogen buses.
Additionally, a Hydrogen Integrated Safety Operation Center will be established and operated to monitor hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization in real-time, ensuring safe hydrogen city operations. Within this center, a hydrogen exhibition hall, a hydrogen experiential welfare facility (bathhouse) for residents, and a specialized education lecture room for the hydrogen industry will be constructed.
Furthermore, a 3 km hydrogen pipeline network connecting hydrogen production facilities, hydrogen charging stations, and hydrogen fuel cells will be built.
◆ Synergy of the Two Projects
Through the linkage of the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and the Hydrogen City projects, Uljin-gun will establish itself as a clean energy hub and play a crucial role in achieving national energy transition and carbon neutrality goals.
These two projects are expected to complement each other and create significant synergy in hydrogen energy production and utilization.
▲ Integration of Clean Hydrogen Production and Utilization
The first synergy effect is the integration of clean hydrogen production and utilization.
The Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex plans to produce 300,000 tons of hydrogen annually, which can be directly utilized in the hydrogen city.
Since the hydrogen city plans to use hydrogen as an energy source in various sectors such as residential, commercial, and transportation, the hydrogen produced at the national industrial complex can be immediately used as an energy supply within the hydrogen city.
This linkage completes a structure where production and consumption are directly connected, enhancing hydrogen supply stability and establishing a circulating hydrogen economy system within Uljin-gun.
▲ Hydrogen Technology Development and Industrial Ecosystem Expansion
The second synergy effect is the development of technology and expansion of the industrial ecosystem.
The national industrial complex will host advanced technology companies responsible for hydrogen production, storage, and transportation, thereby activating hydrogen-related technology development.
By applying these technologies in the hydrogen city, more efficient and safer hydrogen-based energy systems can be provided to residents.
Technologies researched at the national industrial complex will be directly applied and improved in the urban environment, leading to mutual technological advancement for both projects.
▲ Energy Self-Reliance and Carbon Neutrality Achievement
The third effect is greater impact on energy self-reliance and carbon neutrality realization.
Nuclear-based hydrogen production is a clean energy source with zero carbon emissions, so the nuclear hydrogen supplied to the hydrogen city will also achieve carbon neutrality.
Through this, Uljin-gun will become an important hub for achieving South Korea's carbon neutrality goals.
When the hydrogen city and national industrial complex operate together, Uljin-gun can establish a perfect energy self-reliance system that produces and consumes hydrogen, expected to become a model case in national energy policy.
▲ Establishment of a Sustainable Model
Finally, the linkage of the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and the Hydrogen City project will promote regional economic revitalization and positively impact the overall economy of Uljin-gun.
This is a significant opportunity to lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth through large-scale job creation, attracting corporate investment, and expanding related infrastructure.
The combined case of nuclear hydrogen and hydrogen city can serve as a model to promote the hydrogen economy in other regions in the future, enabling Uljin-gun to emerge as a global leader in clean energy beyond South Korea.
While the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and Hydrogen City projects each hold significant independent meaning, their complementary and linked operation will maximize synergy.
These two projects will make Uljin-gun the center of South Korea's hydrogen economy through perfect integration of hydrogen production and consumption, establishing it as a hub for clean energy technology innovation and economic development.
◆ Future Schedule for Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and Hydrogen City Development
Following the exemption of the preliminary feasibility study, LH has begun the planning process for the national industrial complex and plans to apply for national industrial complex approval and complete administrative procedures by May next year.
After final approval of the national industrial complex plan around April 2026, land compensation and construction of the national industrial complex will commence.
For the hydrogen city, the master plan establishment and detailed design service will begin early next year, and consultations among participating companies will be held.
Once the master plan outline is developed, a residents' briefing session will be held for residents near the hydrogen city.
Subsequently, construction of the hydrogen city will start in 2026, with completion scheduled for 2028. After accumulating operational know-how, the hydrogen city infrastructure will be expanded.
County Governor Son Byung-bok stated, "We will successfully promote the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex to complete a large-scale clean hydrogen production system and a full-cycle hydrogen industry ecosystem. Utilizing the economical clean hydrogen produced at the nuclear hydrogen national industrial complex, we will nurture a sustainable hydrogen city and a carbon-neutral realization city model." He added, "Uljin-gun will make every effort to prepare for its leap as a global-level clean hydrogen city, and the Uljin national industrial complex and hydrogen city are expected to bring positive changes to the regional economy and the global environment."
Currently, Uljin stands at a crossroads toward the future.
Will it follow the path of "regional extinction," a problem faced by most regions, or the path of "new leap forward"?
To take the path of new leap forward, the key lies in the successful operation of the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and the leap to a hydrogen energy-centered city.
Uljin-gun will unite the will of all residents to advance not only regional development but also South Korea's energy self-reliance and security through the Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex and Hydrogen City projects.
Together, they will move forward.
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