(C) Ulsan Metropolitan City

Ulsan Metropolitan City, once the heart of South Korea’s industrialization, is donning a new cloak as a "Global Tourism City" starting in 2026. On March 5th, Ulsan City held the ‘2026 Ulsan Tourism Policy Briefing’ at the GLAD Yeouido Hotel in Seoul, presenting a blueprint for "experiential and stay-over tourism" where travelers can physically engage with and linger in the city, moving beyond simple sightseeing.

The briefing was attended by hundreds of industry stakeholders, including representatives from the Korea Tourism Organization and the Seoul Tourism Association. It detailed Ulsan's natural landscapes, advanced industrial assets, and the unique content woven from them, signaling a full-scale move to attract domestic and international tourists.

 
The Transformation of Jangsaengpo... Where Nightscapes Meet Activities
In 2026, the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Zone, Ulsan’s core tourism site, will greet travelers with a completely new look. While whale watching and museum tours used to be the main attractions, thrilling activities and fantastic media art now take center stage.

Unveiled at the briefing, the ‘Poster Kart’ is Korea’s first self-powered ‘wing-stream’ facility that travels through the landmarks of the Whale Culture Village at speeds of up to 40km/h. With completion expected in the first half of the year, it is highly anticipated by Gen Z and family travelers. This will be joined by ‘Whales Swing,’ which offers a sensation of flying against the backdrop of the Ulsan Bridge, and the wooden landmark ‘The Wave,’ reshaping the Jangsaengpo skyline.

The strengthening of nighttime tourism is also notable. ‘Jangsaengpo Light,’ a media facade utilizing SK Energy’s large oil storage tanks, is set to become a symbolic attraction showcasing the fusion of industrial heritage and art. Furthermore, the remodeling of old sea outposts into accommodations and the expansion of the new lodging facility ‘Whale-Jam’ reflect Ulsan’s determination to transform from a "pass-through city" into a stay-over destination where visitors can enjoy the night view.

 
Breathing with Tradition and Nature... Crafting Onggi and Boating in Caves
Ulju County emphasized ‘deep experiences’ utilizing traditional culture and the natural environment. The ‘2026 Ulsan Onggi Festival,’ held from May 1 to May 3, continues its reputation as Korea’s only specialized culture and tourism festival. Rather than just looking at pottery, it allows visitors to participate in the entire process—from treading the clay with masters to shaping it themselves—experiencing ‘tradition in progress.’

The ‘Amethyst Cavern Park’ was also cited as a must-visit course. Once a functional amethyst mine, it maintains a comfortable temperature of 12–16°C year-round and offers the unique experience of exploring the cave’s internal waterways by boat. The nearby ‘Fe01’ gallery, the world’s largest junk art space where abandoned car parts are sublimated into art, is recognized for its value as an ‘edutainment’ space that considers both the environment and art.

(C) Ulsan Metropolitan City

“Benefits Pour in When You Visit Ulsan”... 700 Million KRW in Incentives
The highlight for the travel industry and prospective travelers was Ulsan’s 700 million KRW tourism incentive system. The city has broadened the scope of benefits to include not only group tours but also small-scale travelers.

Accommodation Support: For groups of 5 or more foreigners or 8 or more Koreans, subsidies are provided for up to 3 nights of stay in Ulsan.
Transportation and Experience Fees: Bus subsidies of up to 350,000 KRW per vehicle are available, and 50% of experience fees and train fares (up to 20,000 KRW per person) can be reimbursed.
International Charter Flight Incentives: To attract foreign visitors, the city will provide bold support ranging from 30 million to 50 million KRW for non-scheduled international flights, depending on the flight time and scale.
Shin Yong-deok, head of Ulsan’s Tourism Industry Team, stated, “Ulsan is no longer just a stopover. We will activate a customized support system so that travelers can substantially reduce their expenses and discover the true face of Ulsan.”

 
Artisan Bread and Flavors of Sea and Mountain... A New Horizon for Gourmet Tourism
As the saying goes, "Even Geumgangsan Mountain is best viewed after a meal." In 2026, Ulsan tourism promises unrivaled competitiveness in ‘taste.’ The briefing introduced gourmet courses featuring the bakery of Lee Seo-won—the youngest-ever master from Daejeon’s famous Sungsimdang—set against the bamboo groves of the Taehwagang National Garden and the stunning cliffs of Ganjeolgot.

Ulsan boasts a variety of restaurants where the mountainous beauty of the Yeongnam Alps, the seafood of the East Coast, and the vitality of an industrial city converge. In particular, the ‘Bakery Pilgrimage’ (Bbangi-sunrye) routes, which have gained popularity through variety shows and social media, are acting as a powerful magnet for younger crowds.

 
Beyond an Industrial City, Toward a Representative Tourism City
Jang Yong-sul, Director of Ulsan’s Culture, Tourism, and Sports Bureau, emphasized, “Ulsan has laid the foundation to grow into an international tourism city through the UNESCO World Heritage listing of the Bangudae Petroglyphs and the selection as an International Conference Complex District. 2026 will be the inaugural year for sharing Ulsan’s infinite charm with the world.”

Indeed, Ulsan is completing a ‘complex tourism’ portfolio unlike any other, ranging from the ecological aesthetics of the Taehwagang National Garden and the majesty of the Yeongnam Alps to the storytelling of Jangsaengpo’s whales and world-class industrial tour programs at automobile and shipbuilding plants.

This briefing proved that Ulsan is no longer just a ‘city of factories,’ but is being reborn as a ‘sacred ground for travel’ that people want to revisit. All eyes are on how Ulsan’s grand transformation in 2026—where joy erupts wherever you step—will redraw the tourism map of South Korea.

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