Ulsan Announces 20 Major Achievements Across Six Sectors in Three Years of the 8th Local Administration

Three Years Since the Launch of the 8th Local Government,
Opening the Era of a 5 Trillion Won Initial Budget

On this day, Ulsan Mayor Kim Dugyeom held a press conference at the City Hall Press Center to announce the major achievements of the 30th anniversary of local autonomy and the third year of the 8th local government term.

On the 30th, Kim Dugyeom, mayor of Ulsan, held a press conference at the City Hall Press Center to explain the achievements of the 3rd anniversary of the 8th local government term. Photo by Ulsan City

Mayor Kim explained 20 major achievements across six fields: administrative innovation, economy and industry, urban and transportation, culture and tourism, civic life, and balanced development.

In the field of administration, he cited the opening of the era of an initial budget exceeding 5 trillion won and the lifting of development restriction zones as the greatest achievements.

Over the past three years, Ulsan City has set new records for the largest amount of secured funds each year, raising the initial budget, which had remained in the 4 trillion won range, to 5.1567 trillion won. This is a tenfold increase compared to 507.8 billion won in 1997, when Ulsan was promoted to a metropolitan city.

Regarding the development restriction zones, which was Mayor Kim's top campaign pledge, Ulsan City created approximately 1.45 million square meters of growth space through institutional improvements.

In the first lifted area, 160,000 square meters in the Daun-dong area, a carbon-neutral specialized research cluster is being established. In the second lifted area, 930,000 square meters around Ulsan Sports Park, various sports facilities are being developed. In the third area, 370,000 square meters, the Nammok General Industrial Complex for the eco-friendly future vehicle industry is being constructed.

In the economy and industry sector, the city highlighted surpassing 32 trillion won in investment attraction, advancing as a global artificial intelligence hub, leading in distributed energy, and strengthening industrial competitiveness as major achievements.

Through on-site, hands-on support for companies, Ulsan City achieved 32.7691 trillion won in investment attraction. This investment is expected to create about 12,000 jobs and revitalize the local economy.

The city also evaluated that it has secured a foothold for becoming a global hub by attracting the largest artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Korea to Ulsan.

SK Group and Amazon Web Services are jointly investing 7 trillion won to build a 103 MW AI data center.

With further investment, the city expects to grow into the largest AI data hub in Northeast Asia with a capacity of 1 GW.

During the three years of the 8th local government term, Ulsan City played a leading role in the enactment of the Special Act on Distributed Energy, and as a result, is about to be designated as a specialized area for distributed energy. This designation will reduce the electricity bill burden for citizens and businesses and provide a foundation for attracting additional data centers.

In the urban and transportation field, the city selected the eco-friendly urban railway Ulsan Hydrogen Tram and the development of a comprehensive road and rail network as major achievements.

The first line of the next-generation eco-friendly urban railway, the Hydrogen Tram, is being pursued with the goal of timely completion following the passing of the preliminary feasibility reassessment in 2023.

Additionally, the city has completed preliminary procedures such as feasibility analysis for new roads, including National Route 24 (Eonyang?Daun), National Route 14 (Cheongnyang?Daun), and the Munsu-ro bypass, and is working to secure national funding for these projects.

In the culture and tourism sector, major achievements included attracting the 2028 International Garden Expo to Ulsan and the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site.

Ulsan City has promoted the enactment of the "Special Act on Support and Post-Utilization of the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo" to successfully host the International Garden Expo, which attracts 13 million participants from 31 countries worldwide.

Regarding the inscription of the Bangudae Petroglyphs as a World Heritage site, the International Council on Monuments and Sites recommended its inscription in May, making final approval at the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris in July virtually certain.

In the civic life sector, the city selected achievements such as building a city of happiness for citizens, youth, and women, and realizing a society based on welfare and health.

Through the "Ulbushim Life Plus Project," the city increased satisfaction with administration by discovering citizen-oriented policy projects closely related to daily life in the areas of safety, culture, and welfare.

For the youth population, the city reduced the economic burden on young adults by providing hope housing, and supported employment competency by hiring youth interns and subsidizing exam fees for certifications.

To address gender imbalance in employment caused by a male-centered industrial structure, the city established and has been implementing the first-ever "Comprehensive Plan for Women's Jobs" since March.

To make the city more child-friendly, the city operated municipal childcare centers to prevent care gaps, and expanded the designation of Dalbit Children's Hospital to three locations to prevent medical care gaps and secure citizens' basic medical rights.

In the balanced development sector, achievements included the completion of four major special zones for the Local Era, the 30th anniversary of local autonomy, and attracting the Local Era Expo.

With the designation of four major special zones?Education Development Special Zone, Opportunity Development Special Zone, Urban Convergence Special Zone, and Cultural Legal City?Ulsan City secured national support necessary for regional development, such as nurturing local talent through strengthening public education, revitalizing private investment, and complex development of urban spaces.

In particular, to mark the 30th anniversary of local autonomy, the city attracted the Korea Local Era Expo, the largest local policy exposition in the country.

Additionally, to promote systematic cooperation among Ulsan, Pohang, and Gyeongju, the city launched the Haeoreum Alliance Metropolitan Promotion Group, which was established in 2016, and proposed the "Special Act on Support for the Haeoreum Industrial Belt."

Mayor Kim Dugyeom stated, "Thanks to the support of citizens over the past three years, during which we have worked tirelessly to realize a 'Great New Ulsan,' we have achieved many accomplishments. In the coming year, I will devote all my efforts to the development of Ulsan and the well-being of its citizens."