Residents and volunteers gather at Taehwagang River on Saturday to share welfare resources
More than 1,000 welfare organizations, volunteers and residents gathered at the first riverside park along Taehwagang River in Ulsan's Nam-gu on Saturday for the 2026 Hope+ Welfare Fair, sharing welfare information and the spirit of community under the theme "Adding Hope, Growing Happiness."
Co-organized by the Ulsan Nam-gu Community Social Security Council and the Ulsan Nam-gu Volunteer Center, the event opened with a performance by the Nam-gu Boys and Girls Choir and featured promotional and hands-on booths run by more than 40 social welfare and volunteer organizations.
The participatory booths drew strong crowds with activities including a keyboard keycap decorating station where visitors could customize their own keys, inflatable rides, bubble play, kite flying and instant four-cut photo booths for children and families.
An opening ceremony was held at 2 p.m. that day, attended by Nam-gu District Mayor Im Hyeon-cheol, Ulsan Nam-gu Council Speaker Lee Yang-im, National Assembly member Kim Ki-hyeon of Ulsan Nam-gu B district and Ulsan City Council member Park Yong-geol. Ten social welfare facility workers were commended for their contributions to local welfare, and attendees pledged to advance community welfare through a symbolic "flower of hope" performance involving water.
"Welfare is not completed by administrative effort alone — it gains far greater strength when all members of the community look out for one another and work together," Nam-gu District Mayor Im said, calling for stronger public-private cooperation in building a welfare safety net.
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