Ulsan's Industrial Tower to Be Demolished for Tram Line Construction

The iconic 'Ulsan Industrial Tower' is set to be demolished after nearly 60 years. The Ulsan city government announced on January 21 that the tower, located in the center of the Industrial Tower Rotary, will be removed and relocated to make way for a new tram line.

Constructed in 1967 during the presidency of Park Chung-hee, the Ulsan Industrial Tower, officially known as the Ulsan Industrial Center Memorial Tower, was erected to commemorate Ulsan's designation as South Korea's first specific industrial zone in 1962. Standing at 25 meters tall, the tower features five reinforced concrete pillars atop a gear-shaped platform, topped with a globe encircled by laurel leaves. The five pillars symbolize the success of the 'Five-Year Economic Development Plan' initiated by President Park in 1962.

Two statues surround the tower: one depicting a laborer wielding a hammer, known as the 'Industrial Worker Statue,' and another modeled after the Statue of Liberty, referred to as the 'Woman Statue.' Both were created by the late sculptor Park Chil-sung, who also designed the Restoration Memorial Tower in Sokcho, Gangwon Province. In a past interview, he expressed regret that the Woman Statue was made of cement instead of granite due to the country's poverty, although it was later replaced with a bronze statue in 2011.

An inscription at the base of the tower reads: 'To wash away the history of 4,000 years of poverty and to prepare for the prosperity of our nation, we have come to Ulsan to construct a new industrial city. The resounding sound of the second industrial construction will vibrate the East Sea, and on the day when the black smoke of industrial production spreads into the atmosphere, we will know that the hope and development of our nation has arrived.' This message was delivered by President Park during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ulsan Industrial Center in 1962, along with his handwritten signature.

As the city rapidly developed, the area around the tower transformed into a rotary connecting five roads by the 1980s, making the Industrial Tower Rotary the second largest in South Korea, following the Changwon Plaza Rotary in Gyeongnam.

Despite its symbolic significance, the rotary has been plagued by severe traffic congestion, with up to 6,500 vehicles passing through during peak hours, leading to frequent accidents. Between 2021 and 2023, there were a total of 152 traffic incidents reported at the Industrial Tower Rotary.

The decision to demolish the tower has sparked controversy as Ulsan plans to lay a tram line through the rotary, stretching 10.9 kilometers from Sinbok Intersection to Taehwa River Station, with a target opening date in 2029. Following a feasibility study, the city has confirmed the demolition of the tower.

A city official stated, 'After the tower is demolished, we plan to gather public opinions for its relocation.' Potential new sites include Ulsan Grand Park, Taehwa River Station Plaza, and the Ulsan Museum.