Ulsan expands benefits for families with multigenerational military service

Ulsan is pushing to revise a local ordinance to drop a residency requirement and expand benefits for families officially recognized for multigenerational military service.

The city announced Wednesday that it has drafted a partial amendment to its ordinance on honoring such families and will accept public comment from Wednesday through Oct. 13. The revised ordinance is set to take effect Jan. 1 next year, pending public input, a review by the ordinance and rules deliberation committee, and approval by the Ulsan City Council.

The "distinguished military family" designation is awarded by the Military Manpower Administration to families in which three generations of members have faithfully completed active-duty service and other military obligations — covering grandparents, parents, siblings, the applicant and their siblings and cousins. Families without male members across three generations may still qualify if the women involved completed their mandatory active-duty service.

Under the current ordinance, only designated families who reside in Ulsan are eligible for benefits, which include discounts of 30 to 50 percent on admission and usage fees at public facilities such as Ulsan Grand Park, city sports facilities and the Ulsan Art Museum, as well as reductions on parking fees.

The amendment would remove that residency requirement, allowing any family member who has fulfilled their military obligations and holds a certificate issued by the Military Manpower Administration to receive Ulsan's benefits regardless of where in the country they live.

Applications for the designation are accepted year-round through the Military Manpower Administration's website, in person at regional offices, or by mail. As of the end of August, 541 families comprising 2,526 individuals in Ulsan hold the designation.