Restoring canceled city bus routes tops his first-priority agenda; Kim pledges to revive 'Busan-Ulsan-South Gyeongsang Megacity' framework for fiscal stability

Kim Sang-uk (right), mayor-elect of Ulsan, receives his certificate of election from Ulsan Election Commission Chairman Yu Jin-hyeon at a ceremony held at the commission's office in Jung-gu, Ulsan, on Thursday afternoon. [Provided by the mayor-elect's camp]
Kim Sang-uk (right), mayor-elect of Ulsan, receives his certificate of election from Ulsan Election Commission Chairman Yu Jin-hyeon at a ceremony held at the commission's office in Jung-gu, Ulsan, on Thursday afternoon. [Provided by the mayor-elect's camp]

Kim Sang-uk, the mayor-elect of Ulsan, said Friday that the rapid changes the city has experienced in a short period reflect the will of its citizens, and pledged to repay that trust through governance that puts residents first.

Speaking at a tea gathering with reporters at his campaign office that day, Kim said he would form a transition committee staffed with a small but capable team of working-level officials — mirroring the lean structure of his campaign office — and move immediately into the handover process.

Kim made clear he would not reward campaign supporters with appointments. "I am grateful for the service of those who helped with the election, but there will be no patronage appointments on that basis," he said, adding that he would cut off corruption tied to vested interests at the root and respect the professional culture and voice of the civil service.

He named the restoration of city bus routes in Cheongsang and Guyeong in Ulju-gun and Maegok and Cheongok in Buk-gu as his top priority after taking office.

Kim also said he would review — with future maintenance costs in mind — two major ongoing projects: an urban rail network (tram and streetcar) construction project pursued since the sixth elected-term administration in 2017 to improve Ulsan's underdeveloped public transit, and a plan to build a world-class performance venue requiring an investment of 500 billion won (approximately $327 million).

On inter-regional cooperation, Kim expressed strong intent to revive the "Busan-Ulsan-South Gyeongsang Megacity" framework — a broad metropolitan integration initiative — over the current administration's "Haeoreum Alliance," which he characterized as a collaboration among local governments in different regions. He also outlined plans to work with officials on resolving chronic traffic congestion at Gongeoptap Rotary, Ulsan's worst bottleneck, by relocating the roundabout and constructing an elevated road between Okdong and Samsan.

Kim said he would build on the outgoing administration's "AI Capital" initiative by completing it through what he called "industrial AI transformation" — applying AI technology to Ulsan's core manufacturing sectors, including shipbuilding, automobiles and petrochemicals. He said corporate investment attraction would be pursued on the premise of expanding Ulsan's tax base and creating jobs for young people.

Noting that the People Power Party holds 15 of the 22 seats on the Ulsan City Council, with the Democratic Party holding six and the Progressive Party one, Kim said he would prioritize communication with the council and leverage his experience as a ruling-party Assembly member to maintain close ties with the central government — all in service of building an Ulsan where citizens are in charge.


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