Ulsan Culture and Tourism Foundation to Split into ‘Cultural Content’ and ‘Tourism and MICE’

【Financial News Ulsan = Reporter Choi Soo-sang】  Ulsan City will split the integrated Ulsan Culture and Tourism Foundation into two independent foundations: one focused on cultural content and the other on tourism and the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry.
Jeon Gyeong-sul, director of Ulsan City’s Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau, said at a news conference on the 11th that the city was beginning the formal separation process, targeting the launch of the new foundation in the second half of 2029, to strengthen expertise and accountability in the culture and tourism fields.
The Ulsan Culture and Tourism Foundation, currently operating with three divisions and nine teams, was formed in April 2023 through the merger of the Ulsan Culture Foundation, established in January 2017, and the Ulsan Tourism Foundation, established in January 2021. 
Although the foundations were integrated in line with a policy drive to improve the efficiency of public institutions, persistent concerns have been raised since the launch over operational confusion and weakened expertise. These stem from the differing policy goals and characteristics of cultural and arts programs focused on public benefit and support for basic arts, and tourism marketing and MICE programs centered on industrial and commercial interests.
The city will pursue the foundation’s separation under a structured five-stage roadmap. In the first stage, from next January through October, it plans to commission a specialized firm to conduct a study on organizational diagnosis and preliminary feasibility, examining the foundation’s operations as a whole, including staffing, organization, finances and programs. It will also hold meetings with experts and residents to gather ideas for a range of development plans.
The second stage will involve preliminary consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in November 2027 and the preparation of an establishment plan in December. The third stage will include a feasibility review by a specialized institution in the first half of 2028, gathering residents’ opinions in July and August, and deliberations by the ministry on establishment consultations in September and October. The city plans to complete the substantive establishment procedures in the fourth stage, from November 2028 through April 2029, including enacting and revising city council ordinances, separating the organizations, personnel and assets, and establishing articles of incorporation. It will then apply to the ministry for designation and public notice in May and June 2029, completing the fifth stage with the foundations’ separate launch in the second half of the year.
Jeon said, “This decision is intended to bring out the distinctive characteristics of the culture and tourism fields and enhance expertise,” adding, “We will gather a wide range of views from experts and residents and prepare for the relevant procedures without a hitch.”

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