An aerial rendering of Taehwagang National Garden, the venue for the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo. [Ulsan City]
An aerial rendering of Taehwagang National Garden, the venue for the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo. [Ulsan City]

Ulsan, which bills itself as a "democratic city where citizens are the owners," is preparing the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo together with its residents under the city's ninth directly elected administration.

The organizing committee for the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo will hold a "Dialogue with Citizens" forum Thursday at 3 p.m. in the main auditorium of City Hall, with about 500 participants expected, including residents, civic groups, experts and representatives from related organizations.

The event will proceed in the following order: a promotional video screening for the expo, a citizens' video letter segment, a report on the expo's development plan, a dialogue session with citizens, and a pledge ceremony for a successful event.

In the citizens' video letter segment, 10 residents from all walks of life — including students, office workers, small-business owners and people with disabilities — will share messages of expectation and hope for the expo.

The dialogue session will be led by Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-uk, who chairs the organizing committee. Participants will exchange views on five topics: improving access between the two expo venues at Taehwagang National Garden and the Samsan Yeocheon landfill site; accommodating visitors in terms of transportation, parking and lodging; responding to climate change such as heavy rain and extreme heat; reducing odors at the Samsan Yeocheon landfill; and expanding civic participation.

During the development plan report, Kim Hui-jong, head of the safety and environment research division at the Ulsan Research Institute, will present on "the expo's direction and future challenges," while Kang Tae-ho, an emeritus professor at Dongguk University, will speak on "practical strategies for an expo built with citizens."

The organizing committee plans to carefully review the proposals raised by citizens that day, categorize them by area, and incorporate them into the expo's preparation process — including garden design, event programming and civic participation content.

"From the planning stage through to operations, we will reflect the voices of citizens to make this a participatory expo, and we will build it into a truly international event that satisfies everyone," Mayor Kim said.


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