Ulsan, a City of Human Rights that Respects Diversity

Ulsan Establishes and Promotes the “3rd Ulsan Metropolitan City Basic Plan for Human Rights Promotion”

22 Departments to Full-Scale Launch 80 Detailed Human Rights Promotion Projects

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that it has established and will promote the “3rd Ulsan Metropolitan City Basic Plan for Human Rights Promotion” with the goal of becoming “Ulsan, a Human Rights Culture City that Respects Diversity.”

This plan focuses on presenting the vision, policy goals, promotion tasks, and implementation plans for human rights administration reflecting the characteristics of the Ulsan region, and on building an administrative foundation for Ulsan to advance as a human rights city.

In this 3rd plan, Ulsan set three major goals: Building a human rights guarantee system where citizens' rights are guaranteed without discrimination, Creating a residential environment where everyone can live comfortably and safely, and Realizing a human rights culture city where citizens participate and grow together.

To this end, 5 major strategies were prepared, including Strengthening the institutional basis for human rights, Creating a human rights-friendly living environment, Expanding human rights protection for the socially vulnerable and minorities, Building citizen-participatory human rights governance (public-private partnership), and Spreading human rights education and culture. Twenty-two departments will participate to promote 14 representative projects and 80 detailed projects.

Major projects include the “3rd Age-Friendly City Re-certification” in the elderly human rights sector, “Creation of Complex Education and Play Spaces for Children” in the child and youth sector, “Establishment of Ulsan Housing Transition Support Center for the Disabled and Operation of Local Settlement Packages” in the disabled human rights sector, 'Strengthening Integrated Support for Victims of Violence Against Women' in the women's human rights sector, “Creation and Expanded Operation of Shelters for Mobile Workers” in the labor human rights sector, and “Emergency Welfare Support for Low-Income Foreigners” in the migration background sector.

A city official said, “Based on the 3rd Basic Plan for Human Rights Promotion, we plan to establish and implement annual action plans from 2026 to 2030 and systematically promote detailed human rights promotion projects by department,” adding, “We will do our best to realize Ulsan as a human rights culture city that respects diversity through continuous monitoring and evaluation.”

Meanwhile, regarding the 2nd Ulsan Metropolitan City Basic Plan for Human Rights Promotion, which was carried out from 2021 to 2025, it was reported that most of the 77 total detailed projects recorded an implementation rate of 100%, achieving a high level of performance both quantitatively and qualitatively. This demonstrates that Ulsan's human rights administration is settling stably within an institutional framework. End.

Ulsan Tops Six Major Cities with 107.6% Housing Supply Rate

Above 100% for a Decade from 2015 to 2024

4.6–6.7 Percentage Points Higher than National Average, Indicating Good Housing Supply

It has been shown that Ulsan's housing supply rate maintains the highest level among the six major metropolitan cities.

According to data published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport last December, Ulsan's housing supply rate as of 2024 was tallied at 107.6%.

The city has exceeded a 100% housing supply rate for 10 years from 2015 to 2024, recording the highest figure among the six major metropolitan cities.

Compared to the national average during this period, it is about 4.6 percentage points to a maximum of 6.7 percentage points higher, indicating that housing supply conditions for local residents are relatively good.

The national housing supply rate showed an increasing trend from 2015 to 2019 but has shown a slight downward trend since 2020.

This is interpreted as the result of a contraction in the housing construction economy due to COVID-19, rising material and labor costs, and interest rate hikes since 2020, while the number of single-person households in Ulsan has increased by an annual average of 5,800 over the past six years. As a result of these impacts, Ulsan's housing supply rate decreased by 1.0 percentage point compared to the previous year.

Currently, the total number of housing units in Ulsan is 497,617. Of these, multi-unit dwellings account for 340,739 units, or 69% of the total housing, with apartments making up 62%, multi-family housing 5%, and row houses 2%. Future housing supply is expected to be significantly influenced by the revitalization of housing construction projects currently underway.

A city official said, “Since 2022, we have been striving to recover the local housing construction economy by integrating architectural, traffic, landscape, and urban planning deliberations to drastically shorten the housing construction project period,” adding, “We will continue to strive for expanded housing supply and housing market stability through simplified administrative procedures and the application of reasonable deliberation criteria.”

Natural Monuments Such as Black Stork and Golden Eagle Discovered at Hoeya Dam

Black Stork Observed for the First Time in 5 Years Since November 2020

Juvenile Golden Eagle Also Spotted, Recording First Sighting

Recognized as Good Environment for Hiding and Inhabiting... Observation of Stay Period and Duration Needed

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that from last November to January this year, four species of natural monuments and Endangered Wildlife Class I—Golden Eagle, Black Stork, Steller's Sea Eagle, and White-tailed Eagle—were observed one after another near Hoeya Dam and Hoeya Ecological Wetland in Ulju-gun.

These observations were discovered and recorded by members of the Ulsan Bird Correspondents and the “Tweet-Tweet Rest Area” (Birdwatching group).

First, on November 24 last year, member Lee Jae-ho of the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area recorded a Golden Eagle, a natural monument and Endangered Wildlife Class I, flying over Hoeya Dam for the first time in the Ulsan area.

The Golden Eagle is a representative large eagle species that hunts hares and pheasants.

The observed Golden Eagle was identified as a juvenile bird, confirmed by white spots at the base of its wing feathers and a white tail.

Following this, the Black Stork discovered on January 5 this year confirmed a return to Hoeya Dam and Hoeya Ecological Wetland for the first time in 5 years since three were observed there between November 25 and 30, 2020.

The Black Stork, belonging to the Order Ciconiiformes and Family Ciconiidae, is black with purple and green sheen from the upper body to the lower neck, while the underside is uniformly white. Its beak and legs are long and red.

The Black Stork, a natural monument and Endangered Wildlife Class I, was a resident bird in Korea until 1968, with a pair breeding on a rocky cliff in Gasong-ri, Dosan-myeon, Andong, but there have been no breeding records since. It is a vagrant bird that passes through Korea in winter, and in January 2003, 9 birds wintered at Daedong Dam in Hampyeong, Jeonnam. However, it is now a rare winter migratory bird that visits in very small numbers.

On the other hand, the Steller's Sea Eagle and White-tailed Eagle, both natural monuments and Endangered Wildlife Class I, are observed every year.

Regarding this observation, member Woo Han-byeol of the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area recorded an adult and a juvenile White-tailed Eagle at Hoeya Dam on December 23 last year, and Bird Correspondent Cho Hyun-pyo spotted the species again on the 25th. Correspondent Cho subsequently observed a juvenile Steller's Sea Eagle on the same day and an adult bird additionally on January 7 this year.

Previously, Hong Seung-min, representative of the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area, recorded one Steller's Sea Eagle and two juvenile White-tailed Eagles on video for the first time on December 12 and 15, 2024. Following that, on January 30 last year, the hunting scene of two juvenile White-tailed Eagles and one adult Steller's Sea Eagle was captured by the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area members Kim Tae-hoon and Lee Jae-ho at a reservoir in Cheongnyang-eup. On February 13 of the same year, citizen biologist and photographer Yoon Ki-deuk left video footage of juvenile White-tailed Eagles fighting near a reservoir in Ungchon-myeon, Ulju-gun.

The Steller's Sea Eagle is a winter migrant that feeds on fish and animal carcasses in coastal rivers and estuaries, with extremely small numbers wintering; it is a natural monument, a Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment Endangered Wildlife Class I, and an internationally protected bird designated by the IUCN.

The White-tailed Eagle is a natural monument and Endangered Wildlife Class I, a winter migrant that rarely visits coastal estuaries and rivers.

The two species are relatively easy to distinguish when they become adults. The Steller's Sea Eagle has a larger and heavier beak than the White-tailed Eagle, and its tail is wedge-shaped. In contrast, the White-tailed Eagle has a lower beak than the Steller's Sea Eagle, is yellow in color, and has a lighter yellow color in front of the eyes (lores). Also, the Steller's Sea Eagle is generally black with a dirty-looking white tail, while the White-tailed Eagle differs in that its entire body is brown and its tail is white.

Hong Seung-min, representative of the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area, emphasized, “Hoeya Dam and Hoeya Ecological Wetland are cliff terrains with almost no human access, rich in food, and allow for visibility, making them good conditions for winter migratory birds and raptors to visit,” adding, “However, as there are many pylons nearby posing a risk of collision, it is more important than anything to closely identify annual arrival times and stay durations.”

A city official said, “The fact that the Black Stork was observed again after 5 years and a juvenile Golden Eagle was recorded for the first time is a meaningful case showing Ulsan's ecological value,” adding, “We will continue to monitor arrival status and inspect habitats in cooperation with citizens, including Bird Correspondents, citizen biologists, and the Tweet-Tweet Rest Area members.”

Ulsan

Conducts Open Call for “2026 Region-Specialized Job Creation Support Project”

Discovering Customized Job Projects Reflecting Regional and Industrial Characteristics

Applications Accepted Through Jan 28, Offering Support of Up to KRW 150 Million

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that it will conduct an open call for the “2026 Region-Specialized Job Creation Support Project' until January 28 to discover and support job creation projects that meet regional and industrial characteristics.

This project aims to solve local employment issues and vitalize job matching through manpower training based on local industrial demand, employment linkage, and support for start-ups and job creation.

The total project budget is KRW 872.6 million, with up to KRW 150 million supported per project.

Projects eligible for the open call include Manpower training and employment-linked education/training projects tailored to local industrial demand, Employment linkage projects supporting recruitment/job searching matching, Start-up/job creation support projects providing basic education and consulting, Corporate support projects through prototype production, product development, and market expansion, and Other projects expected to improve local employment situations and create jobs.

Eligibility for application includes Non-profit corporations or organizations, Excellent employment service institutions, Certified training institutions, and Paid/free job placement operators. Each project executing agency can propose only one project. If multiple institutions participate jointly, a representative executing agency must be designated.

Project proposals are accepted via email (jobgo@ucci.or.kr) until 6:00 PM on Wednesday, January 28, and the project proposal and plan must be submitted together.

Submitted projects will undergo document and face-to-face screening, and a supplementation process through consulting if necessary, before final selection in February.

Screening will be conducted by comprehensively considering responsiveness to regional demand, contribution to the local economy by the industry, project execution capability, job creation and quality improvement effects, and previous year's performance. The final selection results will be announced on the Ulsan website (www.ulsan.go.kr) and the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry website (https://ulsan.korcham.net/).

Selected projects will be promoted with city subsidies and will undergo regular guidance/inspection and performance evaluation during the project period. Evaluation results will be reflected when selecting projects for the following year.

Details can be found through the Ulsan City Economic Policy Officer (☎ 052-229-2734), the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Employment Support Team (☎ 052-228-3061), or the websites of Ulsan City and the Ulsan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

A city official said, “We expect effective job projects that meet Ulsan's industrial structure and employment conditions to be discovered through this open call,” adding, “We hope for active participation from institutions with capabilities in local job creation.” End.

Civil Complaint Solver “What-Day” Comes to Ulsan Grand Park

On the 20th, Directly Visiting Citizens to Resolve Grievances

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that it will hold the first “Visiting Civil Complaint Solver What-Day” of 2026 at Ulsan Grand Park Aquasis at 10:00 AM on January 20 to hear and resolve citizens' grievances directly on site.

This What-Day event is an Ulsan-type civil rights relief brand embodying a friendly on-site administrative will. It is promoted as an “on-site service” that supplements some operational methods while based on the existing visiting Civil Rights Commission operation.

The event will be conducted with Ulsan City Civil Rights Commissioners and investigators participating to consult on citizens' grievances and seek solutions.

Participation in the event is open to any Ulsan citizen, and counseling is available by visiting the site and registering on the day of the event.

Complaints requiring additional review will be notified to the complainant after deliberation by the committee in the future.

Ulsan plans to analyze the results of received complaints to reflect improvements and further strengthen the citizen-centered grievance resolution system through the regular operation of “What-Day” in the future.

A city official said, “This “Civil Complaint Solver What-Day” is a place prepared with the determination not to miss even the small voices of citizens,” adding, “We will continue to expand grievance resolution services to realize administration that citizens can feel.” End.

Ulsan

Recruiting Professionals to Prevent Internet/Smartphone Overdependence

Applications for Prevention Education Instructors and Home Visiting Counselors Accepted Until the 28th

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that it will publicly recruit education instructors and home visiting counselors for the “2026 Internet/Smartphone Overdependence Prevention and Resolution Project” to secure citizens' digital health rights until January 28.

Qualifications for selection are personnel with relevant qualifications, such as holders of level 2 internet addiction professional counselor certificate administered by the National Information Society Agency, or those who have completed internet addiction professional manpower training.

Applicants can apply by visiting the Ulsan Internet Addiction Prevention Center (2nd Floor, Goeha Building, 153 Jungang-ro, Nam-gu, Ulsan) within the application period.

Prevention education instructors selected with professional qualifications will educate all age groups, including infants, adolescents, parents, teachers, and military personnel, at schools, daycares, and related institutions on the dangers of smartphone overdependence and the formation of proper usage habits.

Counselors will provide visiting counseling services directly to vulnerable groups such as single-parent, grandparent-grandchild, and multicultural families, as well as general families residing in Ulsan.

Details can be checked on the Ulsan website (www.ulsan.go.kr) under Notices/Announcements or the Smart Rest Center website (www.iapc.or.kr), and inquiries can be made to the Smart Rest Center (☎052-256-5234).

A city official said, “By securing professional personnel to handle internet/smartphone overdependence prevention education and counseling, we will strengthen the expertise of education and counseling and contribute to the settlement of a healthy digital life for citizens.”

Ulsan, Get Tuberculosis Screening at Senior Centers Now

Promoting Visits to Senior Centers for Seniors Aged 65 and Older Starting January 19

Ulsan Metropolitan Government announced that starting January 19, it will promote the “Knock Knock TB, Direct Screening at Senior Centers” project, visiting local senior centers to screen for tuberculosis infection.

This project was prepared as a preemptive response to prevent severity and death through early detection in a situation where the proportion of elderly people aged 65 and over among total tuberculosis patients is increasing every year.

For the elderly with weak immunity, the risk of severe illness and death increases upon TB infection, so early detection is paramount.

Accordingly, Ulsan introduced a mobile screening method of directly visiting senior centers in cooperation with public health centers and the Korean National Tuberculosis Association Ulsan-Gyeongnam Branch to reduce inconvenience for seniors with low medical accessibility.

Screenings will be conducted year-round from January 19 until the end of the year, targeting seniors using 300 senior centers in the jurisdiction.

The screening involves chest X-ray imaging, followed by additional tests such as TB bacteria tests for those with abnormal findings. If tuberculosis is suspected or confirmed as a result of the test, support is provided immediately in connection with public health centers so that treatment and management can be received.

A city official said, “Tuberculosis is a disease that can be completely cured if detected and treated early, but there are not a few cases where discovery is delayed in the elderly because symptoms appear late,” adding, “We will do our best not only for early detection but also to block community transmission by allowing seniors to receive checkups comfortably at familiar senior centers.”

Meanwhile, the city plans to improve the quality of screening through inspections and evaluations of the overall project operation in the future and boost participation rates by strengthening cooperation with senior centers and related organizations. In addition, the city plans to expand visiting screening and continuous management services centering on high-risk groups for tuberculosis, such as the elderly. End.