Ulsan Unveils 'Urban Convergence Special Zone'... Basic Plan Established, Construction to Begin in 2026

Establishing Specialized Project Promotion Strategies by Base for One Year

The Ulsan Urban Convergence Special Zone development project has set sail.

Ulsan City announced on the 17th that it began the "Study on Establishing the Basic Plan for the Ulsan Urban Convergence Special Zone Development" on the 12th.

This study aims to concretize the implementation strategy for creating an urban convergence special zone where industrial, residential, and cultural functions coexist, driving the advancement of Ulsan's core industries and urban growth.

Since being designated as a specific industrial zone in 1962, Ulsan has played a pivotal role in national development. However, due to its industrial structure based on export-oriented manufacturing such as automobiles, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals, it has recently faced a global economic downturn and supply chain crisis, reaching a point where transformation of its existing core industries is necessary.

The population has also been steadily declining since 2015. In particular, the avoidance of manufacturing sites by young talent and the accelerated outflow of young people to the Seoul metropolitan area for university education are notable.

Ulsan City is seeking to link and transition from existing core industries to future new industries, creating youth-preferred jobs through the establishment of a full-cycle startup ecosystem and laying the foundation for new innovative growth.

To this end, it has participated in the Urban Convergence Special Zone project promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) as part of national balanced development. It was selected as a leading project site for the Urban Convergence Special Zone in December last year.

The Ulsan Urban Convergence Special Zone is planned to be developed around the Ulsan KTX station area in Samnam-eup, Ulju-gun, and the Techno Park area in Daun-dong, Jung-gu.

This area is adjacent to the High-Tech Valley Industrial Complex, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan Techno Park (TP), Innovation City, and Janghyeon Urban High-Tech Industrial Complex, allowing utilization of excellent industry-academia-research infrastructure.

Additionally, along with the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway and Gyeongbu Expressway, it is expected to grow into an innovation hub that can drive the joint growth of the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Bu-Ul-Gyeong) region when connected to the future metropolitan railway linking Bu-Ul-Gyeong.

By establishing a new advanced industrial belt related to eco-friendly energy industries such as hydrogen and future mobility, and leveraging various benefits of the Urban Convergence Special Zone such as startup support and regulatory relaxation, the plan is to create a future industrial ecosystem and an attractive mixed-use space combining residential, industrial, and cultural functions, thereby expanding Ulsan’s urban functions and injecting dynamism.

The basic plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the Ulsan Urban Convergence Special Zone development, will be undertaken by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, which laid the foundation for MOLIT’s Urban Convergence Special Zone policy. The plan will be carried out over one year until May next year.

Once the basic plan is established, Ulsan City plans to proceed with designation of the project implementer and establishment of the detailed plan after MOLIT’s approval, promptly carry out compensation and construction, and complete the site development by 2028, where innovation, startups, corporate support, and residential functions can be organically linked.

Ulsan City Hall.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.