ULSAN — Interactive artificial intelligence bus stops that respond to voice queries in multiple languages will be installed in Ulsan, the city government announced.
The Ulsan Metropolitan Government held an Information Technology Committee meeting at City Hall on the 26th and finalized its "2026 Information Technology Implementation Plan." The total budget amounts to 44.51 billion won, funding 83 digitalization projects across five sectors.
The centerpiece of the plan is the new "FUN Interactive AI Bus Stop" initiative. Advanced voice-recognition terminals will be installed at major bus stops with high foot traffic, including airports and intercity bus terminals.
Unlike conventional stop terminals that require users to manually search through complex route maps via touchscreen, the new system allows passengers to simply ask about destinations or bus routes verbally. The AI system automatically recognizes queries and provides immediate responses.
The service will support five languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Vietnamese. City officials expect the system to significantly improve public transit accessibility for elderly residents who struggle with digital devices and foreign tourists visiting Ulsan.
Beyond the AI bus stops, the city is pursuing multiple citizen-focused digital innovation projects. These include a hub-type smart city development, the Ulsan Moa integrated reservation platform, next-generation local administrative information systems for the city and districts, expanded AI digital learning centers, autonomous unmanned environmental inspection technology development, and the Ulsan Genome Bio Data Farm.
The city plans to allocate the budget strategically across five pillars: trusted administration, innovative economy, citizen safety, digital welfare, and expanded data utilization, while strengthening its data-driven administrative framework.
"We will create a city where all citizens can easily utilize artificial intelligence and experience its benefits in daily life," a city official said. "We will accelerate our efforts to realize Ulsan as Korea's representative 'AI Capital.'"