2.6 billion won secured for 5 projects

Childcare, transport, housing and other essentials to be strengthened

A rendering of the Woori Neighborhood Integrated Kioom Center, a combined childcare and cultural facility to be built in Gulhwa-ri, Beomseo-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan. [Ulju-gun Office]
A rendering of the Woori Neighborhood Integrated Kioom Center, a combined childcare and cultural facility to be built in Gulhwa-ri, Beomseo-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan. [Ulju-gun Office]

Ulsan has secured 2.6 billion won ($1.96 million) from the Ministry of Interior and Safety's 2026 local extinction response fund — specifically through its metropolitan support account investment plan evaluation — and will use the money to pursue five projects aimed at improving residential living conditions. The metropolitan support account investment plan evaluation is a system the ministry introduced this year, under which local governments submit project plans to address population decline and receive funding on a differentiated basis according to their evaluation results.

The five projects Ulsan will pursue with the funds are: construction of a Woori Neighborhood Integrated Kioom Center, continued operation of demand-responsive transport (DRT), support for renovating vacant homes, a full overhaul of the Ulsan Youth Policy Platform (U-PAGE), and a garden culture vitalization project under the Garden City Ulsan initiative.

The Woori Neighborhood Integrated Kioom Center project will establish an after-school childcare facility for elementary school students in Cheongyang-eup, Ulju-gun, creating a more family-friendly living environment. The demand-responsive transport project will improve mobility in areas with relatively poor transportation access, while the vacant home renovation support project will refurbish empty properties for use as rental housing for young people and vulnerable groups.

The U-PAGE overhaul will build a two-way integrated youth policy platform to improve young people's access to policy information and encourage them to settle in and move to the region. The Garden City Ulsan garden culture vitalization project will run citizen-participatory garden culture education and experience programs to enhance the city's appeal.

Ulsan plans to use the funding as an opportunity to strengthen the foundations of daily life across childcare, transportation, housing, youth support and culture, with the goal of improving overall living conditions in the city.


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