Ulsan Halts Industrial Tower Relocation Amid Tram Project Deliberation

Ulsan city has put the relocation of its iconic Industrial Tower on hold as it begins a public deliberation process to decide the fate of the proposed Tram Line 1 project. The city announced on May 3 that it had canceled the design competition for the "Ulsan Industrial Center Establishment Commemorative Tower (Industrial Tower)."

Initially, Ulsan planned to construct Tram Line 1 along a 10.85-kilometer route from Taehwagang Station in Samsan-dong to Sinbok Rotary in Mugeo-dong, with a target opening in 2029. The Industrial Tower, currently situated at the Industrial Tower Rotunda within the tram route, was slated to be removed. Plans included reusing the globe, male and female figures, and the declaration stone to construct a new tower near the east gate of Ulsan Grand Park, for which a national design competition was planned.

However, Ulsan Mayor Kim Sang-wook has expressed reservations about the tram project, citing concerns over potential traffic paralysis during construction, increased project costs, and operational challenges. He has opted for a cautious approach, intending to make a decision on the project's progression through a public deliberation committee. While the mayor believes the Industrial Tower Rotunda requires an upgrade, possibly an overpass, independent of the tram project, suggesting the tower's relocation might be unavoidable in the long term.

The Industrial Tower, a symbol of Ulsan as an industrial city, was erected in April 1967 to commemorate the establishment of the Ulsan Industrial Center in 1962 and to express hope for the success of the government's economic development plans.