Ulsan's Major Administrative Shift in 2026: Blueprint for 82 Initiatives Across Six Sectors

Full-Scale Development of Future Industries Including Artificial Intelligence, Defense, and Hydrogen
Expansion of Tangible Policies for Care, Transportation, and Public Safety

Ulsan City has unveiled its new direction for municipal administration starting in 2026.

The city announced "The 2026 Changes in Systems and Policies," which includes 82 new or improved municipal initiatives across six major sectors to be implemented from 2026.

The six sectors are: ▲Economy & Industry ▲Culture, Tourism & Sports ▲Environment & Green Spaces ▲Welfare, Health & Safety ▲Transportation & Urban Affairs ▲Administration & Citizen Life, all designed with a focus on enhancing the quality of life for citizens.

The main points by sector are as follows:

▲In the Economy & Industry sector, Ulsan will accelerate the development of future growth industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), defense, hydrogen, and eco-friendly energy.

The city will take full-scale steps to establish an advanced industrial ecosystem, including developing a carbon-zero underwater data center standard model utilizing the Ulsan offshore area, launching a regulatory sandbox for ammonia bunkering in medium and large vessels, building a demonstration industrial complex for AI transformation (AX) in the petrochemical sector, and designating a defense industry innovation cluster.

Additionally, Ulsan will introduce and support new AI-based infrastructure funding for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), back SMEs through locally driven AI transformation projects, and reorganize the "Ulsan Startup Series" to support entrepreneurship and SME growth at each stage.

The city will also promote safety and clean-up projects for SME workplaces and open a support center for foreign workers to strengthen settlement and rights protection. To ensure rest rights for mobile workers, the city will expand the operation of mobile worker rest areas to year-round, without holidays.

▲In the Culture, Tourism & Sports sector, the focus will be on expanding opportunities for citizens to enjoy culture in their daily lives.

The Youth Culture & Arts Pass will expand eligibility to those aged 19 to 20 and increase support to 200,000 won per person, improving cultural accessibility for young people.

The city will also increase the subsidy for the Integrated Culture Voucher (Culture Nuri Card) to enhance cultural welfare for vulnerable groups.

Furthermore, Ulsan will expand the operation of cultural factory hub spaces and introduce electric carriages (velo taxis) and barrier-free tourism transportation to foster experiential and accessible tourism environments.

In particular, the Banggucheon area will be developed as a historical and cultural tourism hub through the construction of the World Petroglyph Center. Additionally, Ulsan will establish a professional baseball team to participate in the Futures League, aiming to expand leisure opportunities for citizens and promote the city as a baseball hub.

▲In the Environment & Green Spaces sector, the city will strengthen policies for living environment safety and climate response.

Enhanced environmental safety management standards will be fully applied to children's activity spaces, and indoor air quality standards for multi-use facilities will be strengthened by lowering the threshold for ultrafine dust.

Ulsan will also introduce a new registration system for electric vehicle charging stations, operate a mobile city cleaning squad, and rebuild and operate the Seongam Incineration Plant to create a pleasant urban environment.

▲In the Welfare, Health & Safety sector, the city will focus on creating a "child-friendly city" and building a comprehensive care and medical safety net.

To reduce the burden of child-rearing, Ulsan will provide support for dishwashing and sterilization costs at daycare centers, increase the unit price for meal and snack support, raise the unit price for child meal support, and expand welfare eligibility in line with higher median income standards.

The city will also strengthen the health safety net throughout the life cycle by opening a public hospital specializing in industrial accidents (Ulsan), expanding support for dementia treatment and management costs, launching a new one-stop support program for suicide survivors, and reinforcing infectious disease surveillance focused on vulnerable groups.

▲In the Transportation & Urban Affairs sector, Ulsan will improve mobility for transportation-vulnerable groups and enhance urban convenience.

The city will expand mobility support for the elderly and lower the age for free city bus fares from 75 to 70. It will also expand wallet-free parking services and improve the traffic system at the Gonguptap Rotary.

▲In the Administration & Citizen Life sector, the city will improve administrative services closely related to daily life.

Ulsan will improve the method of providing welcome support payments to newly relocated households and extend the operating hours of the 120 Haewool Call Center.

The city will also offer discounts on water bills for those who apply for electronic billing and automatic payment. In addition, Ulsan will operate a matchmaking program for single working men and women and support Ulsan-style public wedding halls to help stabilize the lives of young people and newlyweds.

Detailed information on "The 2026 Changes in Systems and Policies" can be found in the "City News - Latest News" section of the Ulsan City website.

Ulsan City Hall.