Ulsan City Secures 965.4 Billion Won in General Grants... 'Largest Ever' Boosts Fiscal Breathing Room

3.8% Increase Compared to 2025
City's Proactive Efforts Bear Fruit

The determination of Mayor Kim Dukyum, who insisted that "Ulsan should receive as much as it contributes," has paid off. Ulsan City has secured 965.4 billion won in general grants for 2026.

This is the largest amount ever, an increase of 35.5 billion won (3.8%) compared to the previous year's 929.9 billion won.

As a result, Ulsan City's total secured national budget for 2026, when adding the already confirmed 2.7754 trillion won to the general grants of 965.4 billion won, amounts to 3.7408 trillion won, an increase of 208 billion won (5.9%) compared to the previous year.

The general grant is a source of autonomous funding provided by the central government to local governments with insufficient finances. Unlike earmarked national subsidies, local governments can use these funds at their own discretion.

Despite the central government's difficult fiscal conditions, Ulsan City has worked to secure the largest-ever general grant by improving the basic statistics that serve as the basis for calculating the grant and by continuously identifying new administrative demands.

The city has also made frequent visits to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to explain Ulsan's fiscal needs and the necessity of expanding the general grant, making multifaceted efforts in the process.

Ulsan City plans to use the secured general grant to steadily pursue its major priority projects without setbacks.

A city official stated, "Although the process of securing the grant was not easy, the efforts of many people made it possible to achieve this record-breaking amount. Next year, we will continue to make every effort to secure the general grant to support the realization of 'Ulsan, the capital of artificial intelligence (AI),' and regional development."

Ulsan City Hall.