Reduction of 38 Positions at Ulsan Facilities Corporation... Annual Savings of 2.6 Billion Won and Management Innovation
Strengthening Business-Friendly Support Organization... Record-High 32.7 Trillion Won in Investment Attracted
The 'public-private personnel exchange' policy, which Ulsan City is implementing for the first time in the nation, is showing a range of achievements, including attracting investment.
The personnel exchange initiative in Ulsan has drawn attention as an unprecedented administrative approach that goes beyond convention by recruiting management experts from global companies as heads of public institutions, and by dispatching key city hall officials directly to private companies.
This exchange policy is delivering tangible results in several areas: strengthening management innovation in public institutions, realizing business-friendly administration, and attracting large-scale investments.
A representative example is the appointment of Kim Gyudeok, Executive Director at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, as President of the Ulsan Facilities Corporation. Appointed in December 2023, President Kim applied private-sector management expertise to the corporation's operations, enhancing organizational efficiency and responsible management.
Notably, in July, the workforce will be reduced by 38 positions, which is expected to save over 2.6 billion won annually in labor costs. In addition, operational efficiency improvements have led to an 11.8% increase in facility utilization and a revenue increase of 270 million won.
The introduction of a performance-based personnel system also stands out. By separating rank and position, one third-grade director was promoted to a second-grade position, and 11 fourth-grade team leaders were advanced to third-grade positions. The organization also operates third-grade positions without assigned duties, establishing a culture that values practical competence.
The city is also pursuing the reverse policy of dispatching public officials to the private sector. In January last year, Song Yeonju, Director of Corporate Field Support, was dispatched directly to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to listen to and address challenges on the ground, thereby strengthening field-oriented administration.
This kind of personnel exchange has quickly produced results. Ulsan City successfully attracted a 7 trillion won artificial intelligence (AI) data center. In addition, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries was able to rejoin the KDDX (Next-Generation Destroyer) project, which had been jeopardized by sanctions from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, thanks to the city's active support.
The city is also working to improve administrative procedures and revise relevant laws to allow multiple construction activities on factory sites simultaneously. These measures aim to eliminate recurring project delays in industrial sites.
Ulsan City's business-friendly policies under the 8th popularly elected administration have resulted in 32.7 trillion won in investment over the past three years. This translates to an average monthly investment attraction of 900 billion won.
Starting this year, the city has strengthened its investment support system by expanding the designation of dedicated field support officials from four zones to five. It also plans to launch the 'Investment Officer Academy' to share business support expertise with licensing officials in districts and counties.
Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom stated, "The growth of businesses is the growth of Ulsan. We will take full responsibility and provide ongoing support to any company that establishes a partnership with us."
Ulsan City Hall.
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