[Local Election Interview] Democratic Party's Kim Sangwook: "Ulsan at Risk of Disappearance Needs AI-Based Transformation of Key Industries Like Automobiles"

June 3 Local Election: Ulsan Mayoral Candidate
Ulsan Faces Declining Youth Population and Birth Rate
Kim: "We Must Strengthen Urban Competitiveness"

"If things continue this way, the city will disappear. If we remain an isolated society centered on vested interests with broken fundamentals, Ulsan has no future. Administration must be fair, transparent, and centered on the interests of its citizens. We must take the lead in labor-centered 'Industrial AX Transformation (AI Transformation)."

Sangwook Kim, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Provided by the office of Rep. Kim

On April 28, in an interview with The Asia Business Daily, Sangwook Kim, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has been confirmed as the Ulsan mayoral candidate for the 9th Nationwide Local Elections on June 3, emphasized these points.

Ulsan is one of the cities facing growing concerns over population decline and weakening urban vitality, due to a combination of youth outflow, decreasing birth rates, and insufficient living conditions. Candidate Kim stated, "The city's structure, centered on power and vested interests, is isolating the city. Irresponsible, showy administration has accumulated, leaving unfinished projects throughout the city." He diagnosed that the fundamentals of urban administration, such as public transportation and welfare, are collapsing, which is eroding the city's future momentum and leading to the outflow of young people and businesses.

Kim presented the 'transformation' of existing core industries as his central strategy. He proposes to maintain the automobile, shipbuilding, and petrochemical industries, but to restructure them around electrification, eco-friendly ships, and green materials, respectively, and to integrate AI-based industrial transformation in order to upgrade the entire manufacturing sector. He also expressed his vision to grow Ulsan into a Northeast Asian hub for energy and logistics.

Regarding the outflow of young people, he identified the main causes as insufficient job opportunities, housing, and cultural environments. As solutions, he proposed creating youth housing and startup spaces by utilizing the land vacated by the military, introducing basic housing, and establishing a "robot mutual growth fund" to address future employment opportunities.

To solve transportation problems, he suggested a phased approach. "In the short term, we will improve services through a semi-public bus system; in the medium term, introduce autonomous buses; and in the long term, pursue subway construction and connections with metropolitan railways," he proposed. Regarding urban development and the decline of old downtown areas, he said, "We will promote culture and arts-based urban regeneration, relocate public institutions, and attract youth startup spaces in parallel." Kim emphasized, "Voters in Ulsan are pragmatic and value changes in their daily lives."

Born in 1980, Assemblyman Sangwook Kim is a former lawyer who was elected to the National Assembly in the 22nd general election in 2024 as a member of the People Power Party, representing the Ulsan Namgap district. However, after criticizing former President Yoon Suk-yeol's December 3 Martial Law attempt, he left the party and joined the Democratic Party of Korea. He has accumulated legislative, budgetary, and field experience through participation in the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Gender Equality and Family Committee, Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, and the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. He highlights his ability to coordinate policies with the central government as a key strength.

Meanwhile, the Ulsan chapters of the Democratic Party of Korea, the Rebuilding Korea Party, and the Progressive Party have agreed to unify their candidates by May 13, prior to the official registration of candidates for the June 3 local elections. Assemblyman Kim stated, "Unification is both the citizens' wish and a mission of our time."

The following is a Q&A.

-What was the decisive reason for running in the Ulsan mayoral election?

▲Ulsan must take the lead in integrating Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam. Ulsan must also lead labor-centered Industrial AX Transformation. Ulsan must overcome the vested interest cartel, stop the ranking culture, and build a pragmatic, citizen-centered, citizen-owned democratic city. I believed the available period for this was only about three years, and since I saw no other capable candidates, I stepped forward with a sense of duty.

-What is the most serious problem currently facing Ulsan?

▲It is important to overcome undemocratic situations such as ranking by power and vested interests, subordination of civil society, isolation, and exclusive urban conditions. In addition, irresponsible, showy administration has accumulated, leaving unfinished projects throughout the city, and the fundamentals of urban administration, such as public transportation and welfare, are collapsing. As a result, the driving force for the city's future is disappearing, leading to the outflow of young people and businesses.

-What are your strategies for the future prospects of Ulsan's core industries and for reducing their dependency?

▲Automobiles, shipbuilding, and petrochemicals will continue to be the pillars of Ulsan's economy. However, the content must change. The city should directly support the speed of transition from internal combustion engines to electrification, from petrochemicals to hydrogen and green materials, and from shipbuilding to eco-friendly ships and offshore plants. By combining AX (AI Transformation), Ulsan should pursue a strategy to upgrade its entire manufacturing sector into smart industries. Ulsan's petrochemical industry can usher in a new leap forward by functioning as a Northeast Asian logistics hub.

-What are the causes and practical solutions for the outflow of young people?

▲There are three reasons why young people leave. There are no good jobs, living conditions are not improving, and there is no social or cultural breathing space. The land vacated by the Okdong military base should be converted into youth housing and startup spaces. A Ulsan-style basic housing system should be introduced to enable young people and newlyweds to live stably and affordably. In terms of jobs, a robot mutual growth fund should be established so that young people can actively participate in job changes arising from the AX transformation process.

-If you had to choose between industry and environment, which would you prioritize?

▲I believe this is now an outdated question. Industry and environment are no longer in conflict. Industries that cannot protect the environment ultimately cannot be sustained, and protecting the environment without industry is empty. However, if I must choose, I would prioritize citizens' health. The costs that industrial cities have passed on to citizens—such as fine dust, noise, and exposure to chemicals—should no longer be borne. It is the mayor's role to create systems that require companies to share these costs.

-What is your plan to simultaneously address urban development and the decline of old downtown areas?

▲Reviving old downtown areas cannot be achieved through redevelopment alone. There must be reasons for people to gather. We will promote culture and arts-based urban regeneration in the old downtown, including Jung-gu in Ulsan, and coordinate the relocation of public institutions and the attraction of youth startup spaces. In areas like Jung-gu B-04 maintenance zone, which have been neglected for 18 years, the city must proactively and swiftly resolve administrative issues. New development should be guided to connect with the old downtown, and we will also implement support systems for small business owners to prevent commercial district hollowing.

-What are two policies you will definitely complete during your term?

▲First, the completion of the semi-public bus system. We will establish the Ulsan Bus Corporation and ensure that citizens experience improved public transportation services within my term. Second, the creation of an Industrial AX Demonstration Complex. Ulsan's future lies in leading manufacturing AX with a labor-centered focus.

-What is your biggest differentiation and strength compared to other candidates?

▲I have experience in legislation, budgeting, and on-the-ground activities. I have served as a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Gender Equality and Family Committee, Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee, and Special Committee on Budget and Accounts. As a lawyer, I gained field experience by handling various cases. In addition, as the candidate of the ruling party, I have the ability to communicate smoothly with the central government.

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