Ulsan (Korean pronunciation: [ul.s͈an]), officially the Ulsan Metropolitan City, is South Korea's seventh largest metropolis with a population of over 1.1 million. It is located in the south-east of the country, neighboring Busan to the south and facing Gyeongju to the north and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) to the east.
Ulsan is the industrial powerhouse of South Korea, forming the heart of the Ulsan Industrial District, which is home to the world's largest automobile assembly plant operated by Hyundai Motor,1 the world's largest shipyard operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries2 and the world's largest oil refinery owned by SK Energy.3 In 2008, Ulsan had a GDP per capita of $63,817, the highest by far in South Korea.4 It would have been the world's third wealthiest economy if ranked, being richer than Norway, Singapore, United States, Hong Kong and Switzerland.5
The city hosts the K-League football club Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i (Ulsan Hyundai Tigers), who, after the 2002 FIFA World Cup, relocated from their former stadium in Jung-gu, which is now a municipal ground, to the Munsu Stadium, which hosted several matches during the 2002 World Cup. Ulsan is home to another soccer team, Ulsan Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, which plays in the Korea National League. It is also home to the University of Ulsan.
Contents 1 Administrative divisions 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Economy 4 Transportation 5 Sister cities 6 Independent cities in South Korea 7 See also 8 References 9 External links // Administrative divisions See also: Administrative divisions of South KoreaUlsan is divided into 4 gu (districts) and 1 gun (county).
Map Name Hangul Hanja Buk-gu Dong-gu Jung-gu Nam-gu Ulju-gun Gu (Districts) Buk-gu 북구 北區 Dong-gu 동구 東區 Jung-gu 중구 中區 Nam-gu 남구 南區 Gun (County) Ulju-gun 울주군 蔚州郡 GeographyUlsan is bounded on the east by the Sea of Japan. It is not far from Busan, at only 70 km to the south.
ClimateUlsan has a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate (Koppen Cfa/Cwa), with cool, but mild by Korean standards, but dry winters, and hot, humid summers. Monthly means range from 2.2 °C (36.0 °F) in January to 26.1 °C (79.0 °F) in August, with diurnal temperature ranges generally low. The coastal location results in a seasonal lag, with the warmest days being in August and averaging very near 30 °C (86 °F). Precipitation is relatively low in the winter months, but is made up by the high rainfall falling from April to September.
Climate data for Ulsan (1971-2000) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C (°F) 7.0 (44.6) 8.5 (47.3) 12.7 (54.9) 18.7 (65.7) 23.2 (73.8) 25.7 (78.3) 28.9 (84) 29.8 (85.6) 25.8 (78.4) 21.6 (70.9) 15.5 (59.9) 9.9 (49.8) 18.9 (66) Average low °C (°F) -2.7 (27.1) -1.3 (29.7) 2.6 (36.7) 7.7 (45.9) 12.3 (54.1) 17.1 (62.8) 21.7 (71.1) 22.3 (72.1) 17.4 (63.3) 11.0 (51.8) 4.8 (40.6) -0.7 (30.7) 9.4 (48.9) Precipitation mm (inches) 38.0 (1.496) 42.2 (1.661) 71.6 (2.819) 108.2 (4.26) 100.6 (3.961) 185.4 (7.299) 195.3 (7.689) 232.5 (9.154) 165.5 (6.516) 60.7 (2.39) 50.7 (1.996) 23.9 (0.941) 1,274.6 (50.181) % Humidity 54.7 56.0 61.6 64.6 68.2 76.6 80.5 79.7 77.2 70.0 64.0 56.8 67.5 Avg. precipitation days 5.7 6.4 8.2 8.9 9.0 10.4 12.5 11.4 9.6 6.1 5.7 4.0 97.9 Sunshine hours 189.2 173.9 185.3 206.2 223.5 168.0 161.2 172.9 158.1 192.7 179.0 195.0 2,204.9 Source: Korean Meteorological Administration 6Korean Meteorological Agency |accessdate = 2009-03-17 }}
Economy A view of the Iaan Exodium twin skyscrapers on Taewha River.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 were developed, including in particular an oil refinery, fertiliser plants, automobile production and heavy industries. The shipbuilding port Bangeojin became part of the city in 1962.
Ulsan is currently the home of the world's largest automobile assembly plant operated by Hyundai Motor,1 the world's largest shipyard operated by Hyundai Heavy Industries2 and the world's largest oil refinery owned by SK Energy.3
TransportationThe 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.7 Ulsan Airport, constructed in 1970 and expanded in 1997, has more than 20 flights per day to and from Seoul's Gimpo International Airport and 4 flights per week to and from Jeju International Airport.
Sister cities Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India (since 1965) Hagi, Japan (since 1968) Hualien, Taiwan (since 1981) Portland, Oregon, United States (since 1987) Changchun, Jilin, China (since 1994) Tomsk, Tomsk Oblast, Russia (since 2003) İzmir, Turkey (since 2002) Santos, São Paulo, Brazil (since 2002) Kocaeli, Turkey (since 1995) Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam (since 2002) Karagandy Province, Kazakhstan (since 2010)The following cities have a friendship agreement with Ulsan:
Kumamoto, Japan (since 2010) Independent cities in South Korea Seoul Busan Incheon Daegu Daejeon Gwangju Ulsan See also Bangudae Petroglyphs List of Korea-related topics List of cities in South Korea References ^ a b http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2010/01/11/0706000000AKR20100111098900057.HTML?template=2086 ^ a b http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/view/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001214440 ^ a b http://pda.ulsan.go.kr/Common/Detail.neo?id=U0010711 ^ See List of South Korean regions by GDP. ^ World Economic Outlook Database-October 2009, International Monetary Fund. GDP(PPP) per capita(2008). Accessed on December 23, 2009. ^ "국내기후자료 평년값자료(30년)" (in Korean). Korea Meteorological Administration. http://www.kma.go.kr/weather/climate/average_30years.jsp?yy_st=2001&stn=152&norm=M. Retrieved 2010-06-02. ^ "Welcome to Ulsan Metropolitan City - News and Notice". Ulsan City Council. http://english.ulsan.go.kr/Community/news/view.php?num=337&page=3&board_id=foreign_news&search_option=&search_cond=. Retrieved 2008-02-18. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ulsan Ulsan's Foreigner Living Site Ulsan Metropolitan City official site Ulsan : Official Site of Korea Tourism Org v • d • e Metropolitan city of Ulsan Districts Buk-gu · Dong-gu · Jung-gu · Nam-gu County Ulju v • d • e 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 Special self-governing province Jeju Special city Seoul Metropolitan cities Busan · Daegu · Daejeon · Gwangju · Incheon · Ulsan Proposed Special Autonomous City Sejong City v • d • e Metropolitan cities of South Korea Special city Seoul Metropolitan cities Busan · Daegu · Daejeon · Gwangju · Incheon · Ulsan Provincial capitals (not included above) Changwon · Cheongju · Chuncheon · Jeju City · Jeonju · Muan · Suwon Cities (not included above) Andong · Ansan · Anseong · Anyang · Asan · Boryeong · Bucheon · Cheonan · Chungju · Dongducheon · Donghae · Gangneung · Geoje · Gimcheon · Gimhae · Gimje · Gimpo · Gongju · Goyang · Gumi · Gunpo · Guri · Gunsan · Gwacheon · Gwangju · Gwangmyeong · Gwangyang · Gyeongju · Gyeongsan · Gyeryong · Hanam · Hwaseong · Icheon · Iksan · Jecheon · Jeongeup · Jinju · Miryang · Mungyeong · Namwon · Namyangju · Naju · Nonsan · Osan · Paju · Pohang · Pocheon · Pyeongtaek · Sacheon · Samcheok · Sangju · Seogwipo · Seongnam · Seosan · Siheung · Sokcho · Suncheon · Taebaek · Tongyeong · Uijeongbu · Uiwang · Wonju · Yangju · Yangsan · Yeongcheon · Yeongju · Yeosu · YonginCoordinates: 35°33′N 129°19′E / 35.55°N 129.317°E / 35.55; 129.317
