Uljin County in Gyeongbuk announced its selection by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport as part of the third phase of the Hydrogen City Development Project. This marks the first time a county-level jurisdiction in South Korea, alongside Ulsan and Seosan cities, has been chosen for this initiative.
First Hydrogen City in County
The project, supported by a total investment of 40 billion KRW (50% from national funding and 50% from local funding), will focus on creating a hydrogen city centered around the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex. The Hydrogen City project aims to expand hydrogen infrastructure and integrate hydrogen into daily life to stimulate the hydrogen economy and achieve carbon neutrality.
Hydrogen Production and Mobility
Uljin County plans to establish hydrogen production facilities and distribute the produced hydrogen to hydrogen charging stations for use in hydrogen mobility solutions, including hydrogen buses and passenger cars. The county will also install hydrogen fuel cells to supply electricity and heat to companies in the industrial complex and gradually replace existing city buses with hydrogen buses.
Hydrogen Safety and Integration
To ensure safe operations, a hydrogen-integrated safety management center will be built and operated to monitor hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and usage in real time. The center will also host a hydrogen promotion hall, community welfare facilities incorporating hydrogen experiences (such as baths), and specialized educational rooms for the hydrogen industry. A 3-kilometer hydrogen pipeline network will be constructed to connect hydrogen production facilities to hydrogen charging stations and fuel cells.
Masterplan and Future Prospects
In 2025, Uljin County will initiate a masterplan development project to outline the third-phase hydrogen city, collaborating with companies planning hydrogen projects around the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex. This master plan will be tailored to the local conditions and aspirations of the region.
Regional and National Significance
Uljin County Mayor Son Byeong-bok stated, “Being the first county chosen for the hydrogen city project reflects the nation’s high expectations for the Uljin Nuclear Hydrogen National Industrial Complex in achieving carbon neutrality and enhancing energy security. We aim to develop a sustainable hydrogen city model, leveraging economically produced clean hydrogen from the complex to foster a carbon-neutral urban environment.”
