Ulsan to Be a Smart City

Ulsan selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT)'s Smart City Hub Contest

On Apr. 6, Ulsan submitted its project proposal to the MOLIT's 2023 Smart City Hub Development Project and received a written evaluation, on-site inspection, and presentation evaluation. Ulsan was selected as the final local government to receive government funding on May 3. The city announced that it will receive KRW 20 billion in government funding for three years from 2023.

The MOLIT's 2023 Smart City Hub Development Project differs from previous smart city projects that focused on solving urban problems and improving service conditions. The new project aims to develop and establish comprehensive solutions to address issues throughout the entire city, creating a hub for the expansion of smart cities. It supports regional specialization, establishment of smart infrastructure related to cutting-edge industries, and dissemination of innovative urban services.

This project hosted by the MOLIT is a revamped version of the previous regional hub smart city development project. This is the first year of its nation-wide implementing, targeting metropolitan and local governments. A total of two local governments will be selected, receiving a maximum of KRW 20 billion in national funding over the next three years. An additional KRW 20 billion in local funding will be provided, resulting in a total project budget of KRW 40 billion for the development of regional smart city hubs.

The evaluation process for the competition involved document review, on-site inspection, and presentation evaluation. The evaluation criteria focused on the necessity of the project, the quality of the project plan, the implementation structure, and the willingness to carry out the project.

For this competition, Ulsan designated Ulsan Technopark as the operating organization, and selected a consortium including SK Planet and Hyundai Motor Company as joint participants through its own bidding. The city participated in the project competition with the theme: New Ulsan 4.0 Inno City Development Project to Leap into the 4th Industrial Revolution. Jung-gu Innovation City and Seongan-dong were the primary targets.

The main contents of the project consist of 14 services in four sectors. In the mobility sector, they will implement four customized transportation services, including demand-responsive transport (DRT) autonomous buses, etc. to create a leading model for optimal mobility and service expansion. In the energy sector, Ulsan will promote efficient energy consumption and participation of the citizens in carbon-neutral environmental policies through three services, including a carbon-neutral reward system. In the life sector, the city will provide innovative technology-based life services, including sensory smart healthcare. In the data sector, Ulsan is slated to integrate this project's Smart City Data with the MOLIT's Data Hub Establishment Project to increase system efficiency and explore continuous utilization methods such as the Data-based Smart Administrative Services.

After signing the project implementation agreement between Ulsan, the MOLIT, and the SK Planet consortium, Ulsan is planning to finalize the project plan by the first half of 2023 and complete the implementation plan by the end of the year to start promoting the project in earnest.

An official of Ulsan said, "The selection for the Smart City Hub Project is expected to improve living conditions by solving various urban problems in the Innovation City and Seongan-dong and contribute to regional revitalization, a leap to a future city, and the creation of new industries. In the future, we will spread the project results throughout the city so that all citizens can evenly enjoy the benefits of a convenient and safe smart city, and create a smart leading city, Ulsan, that spreads the Ulsan-type smart city model nationwide."