？ Ten-year, three-phase master plan to uncover and restore key facilities and link historical and cultural resources ？
？ Building a shared historical and cultural platform with residents to enhance Nam-gu’s brand value and foster tourism industry ？

Ulsan Nam-gu (Mayor Dong-wook Seo) announced on the 20th, at the Nam-gu Press Center, a master plan outlining a ten-year roadmap for the Navy Headquarters of East Gyeongsang-do Province, Ulsan Gaeunpo project. Under the vision “Creating the Oehwhang River Historical and Cultural Zone―Connecting Generations and Communities.” The plan aims to: preserve and restore national heritage, develop content and resources, strengthen community participation.

The roadmap, divided into three phases―Foundation Building (2025？2027), Core Project Implementation (2028？2030), Expansion and Activation (2031？2034)―sets out a strategy to restore historical authenticity through the excavation and restoration of the Navy Headquarters of East Gyeongsang-do Province, Ulsan Gaeunpo, which was designated a National Historic Site on August 7, 2024. It includes the restoration of key structures such as Jeseungjeong Pavilion and Cheojeong Pavilion, as well as linking historical and cultural resources within the Oehwhang River and Gaewoonpo regions.

The plan also includes establishing a private governance framework to encourage community participation and promote sustainable development.

During the Foundation Building Phase (2025？2027), a comprehensive maintenance plan for the fortress will be drawn up, completing the necessary administrative and preliminary procedures for project implementation.
The district will develop specialized history, culture, and education content centered on the Oehwhang River, form a private “promotion task force,” sign MOUs with other local governments managing naval fortress sites (Tongyeong, Suyeong in Busan, Yeosu, Haenam, and Boryeong), and collaborate with the Office of Education to recognize student experiential learning programs.

In the Core Project Implementation Phase (2028？2030), the district will excavate the late-Joseon-era Shipyard Village (Seonso Maeul) and restore key facilities such as Jeseungjeong Pavilion and Cheojeong Pavilion, based on academic research materials, while developing and operating experiential content that attracts visitors.

Especially during the restoration process, residents will participate through activities such as hands-on stone masonry experiences for fortress walls, roof-tile donation campaigns, and a community record team documenting the progress, adding meaning to the restoration.

In the Expansion and Activation Phase (2031？2034), the district plans to host signature festivals such as naval departure reenactments at the restored Shipyard Village, develop exploration trails, and establish a sustainable operating system to create a representative local hub space.

This comprehensive and systematic plan presents a clear direction for simultaneously achieving the historical preservation and regional revitalization of the Navy Headquarters of East Gyeongsang-do Province, Ulsan Gaeunpo.

Nam-gu will further accelerate the creation of the Oehwhang River Historical and Cultural Zone by linking this initiative with the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for the Navy Headquarters of East Gyeongsang-do Province, Ulsan Gaeunpo, currently underway with about KRW 100 million in funding from the Korea Heritage Service.

Mayor Dong-wook Seo remarked, “Until now, cultural heritage within national industrial complexes has been difficult to access and overshadowed by industrial imagery, but the cultural assets around the Oehwhang River represent an important axis of Ulsan’s historical and cultural identity. Through this master plan, we will turn the Eohwang River’s heritage into an open space where culture and industry coexist―where both residents and visitors can enjoy and learn together.”