The Ulsan Metropolitan Government is moving forward with a 672 billion won ($490 million) project to restore waterways around Hakseong Park in an effort to revitalize the old downtown district of Jung-gu. While the plan envisions a new landmark linked to the Taehwa River National Garden, opposition over the massive budget and concerns about historical inappropriateness point to a contentious road ahead.
According to the city government on the 29th, Ulsan recently unveiled a feasibility study and master plan for the Hakseong Park waterway restoration project, formally setting the initiative in motion. The large-scale urban restructuring project calls for a 1,052-meter circular canal encircling Hakseong Park 360 degrees and a 322-meter connecting channel leading to the Taehwa River, spanning a 127,250-square-meter site in Hakseong-dong, Jung-gu.
The city designed the canal with a width of 10 meters and a depth of 1.8 meters, with water taxi operations in mind. Two radial collector wells will be installed along the Taehwa River to draw approximately 37,000 tons of river water per day for year-round supply. The plan aims to maintain a flow velocity of 0.1 to 0.2 meters per second to prevent stagnation or drying and create a pleasant waterfront environment.
Flood control functions will also be strengthened to prepare for heavy rainfall driven by climate change. The city plans to install floodgates on the channel connecting to the Taehwa River, enabling the canal to serve as a detention basin during floods. Additional drainage pump stations will allow forced discharge, reducing recurring flood damage during typhoons.
Beyond simple waterway restoration, the city envisions creating a "waterfront cultural complex city." Linking the project to the 2028 Ulsan International Garden Expo, the plan includes five themed waterfront zones, 68,100 square meters of park greenery and water-friendly spaces, eight pedestrian bridges, one vehicle bridge, a cherry blossom tunnel, a gourmet street and lawn plazas — concentrating tourism and leisure infrastructure in the area.
Securing funding is the key challenge. The city plans to adopt a private-sector-led urban development approach, with parks built through public contributions. By utilizing the Urban Innovation Zone system to relax building-to-land and floor area ratio regulations, the city aims to secure approximately 729.8 billion won in public contributions. The project site will be divided into four districts for phased development of residential, office and mixed-use cultural facilities.
Political opposition poses another obstacle. Kim Sang-wook of the Democratic Party of Korea and Kim Jong-hun of the Progressive Party, both Ulsan mayoral candidates, warn that the public contribution model could lead to project setbacks during a real estate downturn and ultimately burden taxpayers. They also raise concerns about the short canal section's limited tourism competitiveness for water taxis, as well as maintenance costs and water quality deterioration from mechanical pumping.
Controversy over the site's historical context is equally sharp. Critics point out that Hakseong Park sits on the former site of Ulsan Waeseong, a Japanese fortress and fierce battleground during the Japanese invasions of Korea in 1597. Encircling the park with a canal, they argue, evokes a moat — a defensive feature of Japanese fortresses.
"With the city's vision for large-scale waterfront infrastructure to revive the old downtown clashing with criticism over excessive development and damage to historical significance, considerable debate is inevitable as the project moves forward," a local political figure said.
