- Nam-gu Holds Briefing on the Implementation Plan and Administrative Support Plan for the 30th Ulsan Whale Festival -
- Completely Redesigned as a “Stay-type, Participatory Festival” Citizens Can Directly Join and Immerse Themselves In -
- Strengthening the Festival Brand with Three Signature Programs, Including a Voluntary Participation Parade -

Ulsan Nam-gu (Mayor Lim Hyun-cheol) held a briefing on the (draft) implementation plan and administrative support plan on the 30th, in the 3rd-floor meeting room of the main building, for the successful staging of the “30th Ulsan Whale Festival,” to be held over four days from October 15 to 18.

The briefing was attended by about 60 people, including Nam-gu Mayor Lim Hyun-cheol, officials from the Whale Cultural Foundation, which organizes the festival, heads of the Nam-gu office’s administrative support departments, and corporation officials. It began with the festival’s general director reporting the draft implementation plan, followed by administrative support plan reports from each department head, a question-and-answer session, and closing remarks from the mayor.

The Ulsan Whale Festival, marking its 30th anniversary this year, will boldly break away from its existing “passive viewing” format and “scattered, list-like” structure to be completely redesigned as a “stay-type, participatory festival” that citizens can directly join and immerse themselves in.

This year’s festival will further strengthen its brand identity by organizing the parade, the Whale Experience Ground, and the Whale Rider Challenge as its “three signature programs.”

In particular, a major change will be attempted for the “Street Parade,” the core program that has run without fail for 30 years.

It will boldly move away from the previous format, in which residents of 14 administrative dongs were required to take part, and be reborn as a genuine citizens’ festival in which about 1,000 people―including professional performers, hobby clubs, and citizens―participate voluntarily.

The parade schedule has also been moved from the third day (Saturday) to the fourth and final day (Sunday, 4？6 p.m.), which will bring the festival to a close, in order to increase focus and impact.

A new “Small Business Owners’ Flea Market Zone” will be established to help revitalize the local economy.

About 50 businesses with an address or place of business in Nam-gu will take part, showcasing outstanding local products to tourists visiting the festival grounds.

The festival will also actively utilize the “Taehwagang Station Square” to improve accessibility for tourists from outside the region.

Pre-festival busking performances will be held at Taehwagang Station starting October 2 to build up the festive atmosphere, and during the festival period the station will serve as a “transit welcome gate” with shuttle buses running every 30 minutes to maximize transportation convenience.

At the multipurpose sports ground, the festival’s main venue, a “Whale Experience Ground” featuring a large-scale AI experience zone and other attractions will be set up to convey both the symbolism of the 30th anniversary and a vision for the future.

Steps will also be taken to trim excess and strengthen the substance of the festival.

Invitations of major singers for the opening and closing ceremonies will be significantly reduced, and the closing ceremony stage will instead feature Ulsan-based art groups and singers, giving the stage to local artists.

Nam-gu Mayor Lim Hyun-cheol said, “Based on the administrative support plans reported today by 23 departments and agencies, we must build an active cooperation system with no barriers between departments,” adding, “Centered on the Tourism Division, which oversees the festival, and the Whale Cultural Foundation, let us do our utmost in operating diverse programs and welcoming visitors so that we can leap forward as the nation’s finest premier festival.”

Meanwhile, based on the opinions gathered at this briefing on the implementation and administrative support plans, Nam-gu and the Whale Cultural Foundation plan to coordinate detailed schedules and begin full-scale preparations for the festival, aiming for an opening on October 15.