University district in Ulsan unites residents, students and merchants to revive local commerce

The Babo Sageori district near the University of Ulsan — a hub for young people in the city — is set to gain fresh momentum as the university's student council joins efforts to boost the area's commercial activity, following its designation as an "alley-type shopping street" in August.

The Mugeo-dong residents' self-governance committee, the University of Ulsan student council and the Babo Sageori merchants' association signed an MOU for the revitalization of the Babo Sageori alley commercial district at the Mugeo-dong administrative welfare center on Thursday.

Under the agreement, the three organizations will work together to encourage students and university community members to patronize local businesses through joint promotions, a student discount program, events tied to university festivals and local cultural activities, and efforts to identify grant projects and external partnerships for the district.

As a first initiative, the groups plan to hold a "Babo Sageori, Youth Ballad" concert in the district on Nov. 5, featuring busking performances and an alley dining event by University of Ulsan student clubs, merchant discount events, a public LED-board confession booth and vacancy-hope stickers.

Ahead of that, Ulsan Nam-gu will hold the "2026 Second Youth Mental Health Festival" in the Babo Sageori area on Wednesday and create a 160-meter "youth healing outdoor street" along the district. The Mugeo-dong administrative welfare center will also run a "mutual-growth relay" campaign with community organizations, dining at restaurants in the area to help drive foot traffic.

"We expect this MOU to create a virtuous cycle in which small business owners see higher sales while university students enjoy discount benefits," said Shin Mi-gyeong, head of Mugeo-dong. "We will continue to develop a variety of projects to revitalize the Babo Sageori alley commercial district."