Ulsan

 

(ūl'sän') , city (1995 pop. 333,178), SE South Korea, an independent metropolitan city and a port on the Korea Strait. Once a fishing port and agricultural center, it is now an industrial center, with oil refineries, chemical plants, and a large sugar refinery. Automobiles, fertilizer, textiles, ships, and aluminum are produced.

Ulsan Metropolitan City
Korean name
Hangul 울산 광역시 Hanja 蔚山廣域市 Revised Romanization Ulsan Gwangyeoksi McCune-Reischauer Ulsan Kwangyŏksi
Short name
Hangul 울산 Revised Romanization Ulsan
Statistics
Area  km² ( sq mi) Population (2004) Population density /km² (/sq mi) Government Metropolitan City Administrative divisions 4 wards (Gu), 1 county (Gun) Region Yeongnam Dialect Gyeongsang
Location map
Map of South Korea highlighting the city.

Ulsan, a metropolitan city in the south-east of South Korea, facing the Sea of Japan (East Sea). It is located at 35°33′N, 129°19′E, 70 kilometres north of Busan.

The city forms the heart of the country's industrial area called the Ulsan Industrial District. The city hosts the K-League football club Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (Ulsan Hyundai Tigers), who, after the World Cup of 2002, relocated from their former stadium in Jung Gu, which is now a municipal ground, to the Munsu Stadium, which hosted several matches in the World Cup. Ulsan is also home to the University of Ulsan.

Administrative divisions

Ulsan includes 4 wards ("Gu") and 1 county ("Gun").

• Buk-gu (북구; 北區)
• Dong-gu (동구; 東區)
• Jung-gu (중구; 中區)
• Nam-gu (남구; 南區)
• Ulju-gun (울주군; 蔚州郡)

Industry

As the center of the Ulsan Industrial District, the city is the corporate base of the multinational Hyundai conglomerate. Up to 1962, Ulsan operated as a fishing port and market centre. As part of South Korea's first five-year economic plan, Ulsan became an open port. Additionally, major industrial plants and factories developed, including in particular an oil refinery, fertilizer plants, automobile production and heavy industries. The shipbuilding port Bangeojin became part of the city in 1962.

The city was a major center of Korean whaling, which led to its selection as the site of the June 2005 International Whaling Commission meeting.

The GRDP (Gross Regional Domestic Per capita) of this city is 40,000 US dollars c.a.. (2005)

Transportation

The city transport department plans to build a light-rail line and the public transportation system is as good as any other major Korean city. The bus system shows a particular ETA at most bus stops.[1] Ulsan Airport, constructed in 1970, expanded in 1997, has more than 20 flights per day from/to Seoul Gimpo International Airport and 2 flights per day from/to Jeju International Airport which is the major gateway of Jeju island, a famous vacationland lying in the southernmost part of Korea.

Climate

Ulsan's average rainfall (based on an average of the last 30 years) is 1272mm. The average annual temperature is 14.3C, while the maximum and minimum temperatures are 38.6C and -16.7C respectively.

Sister cities

• Hagi, Japan (since 1968)
• Hualien, Taiwan (since 1981)
• Portland, Oregon, USA (since 1987)
• Changchun, China (since 1994)
• Tomsk, Russia (since 2003)
• Ahmedabad, India (since 2000)

See also

• List of Korea-related topics
• List of cities in South Korea

External links

• Ulsan Metropolitan City official site
• Ulsan on the Galbijim Wiki
• Ulsan travel guide from Wikitravel

Regions and administrative divisions of South Korea
Regions	Capital area · Gwandong (Yeongdong · Yeongseo) · Hoseo · Honam (Jeju) · Yeongnam
Provinces	Chungbuk · Chungnam · Gangwon · Gyeonggi · Gyeongbuk · Gyeongnam · Jeonbuk · Jeonnam
Autonomous province	Jeju
Special city	Seoul
Metropolitan cities	Busan · Daegu · Daejeon · Gwangju · Incheon · Ulsan

Coordinates: 35°33′N, 129°19′Ezh-classical:蔚山

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