Ulsan – Korea attractions – Tourist attractions – South Korea
Ulsan is a metropolitan city located on the southeastern coast of South Korea. It is the seventh-largest city in the country and is known for its industrial significance, beautiful coastline, and various cultural attractions. Here are some key aspects of Ulsan:
Economy and Industry
Ulsan is a major industrial hub and is often considered the industrial heart of South Korea. The city is home to the Ulsan Industrial District, which includes one of the world’s largest automotive assembly plants operated by Hyundai Motor Company. Ulsan is also a significant center for shipbuilding, petrochemicals, and heavy industry.
Hyundai Motor Company
The city is closely associated with Hyundai Motor Company, one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world. Hyundai’s main automotive assembly plant is located in Ulsan, contributing significantly to the city’s economic development.
Petrochemical Industry
Ulsan is home to the Ulsan Industrial District, which houses various petrochemical complexes, including refineries and chemical plants. This industrial sector plays a crucial role in the city’s economy.
Natural Resources
Ulsan is surrounded by mountains and has a coastline along the East Sea (Sea of Japan). The city’s natural resources, including the ocean and nearby mountains, contribute to its diverse landscape and offer opportunities for outdoor activities.
Jangsaengpo Whale Cultural Village
Located in Ulsan, Jangsaengpo Whale Cultural Village is known for its whaling history. The village has a museum dedicated to whales and maritime life, providing insights into the region’s whaling traditions.
Amethyst Cavern Park
There is a cavern of amethysts which is the fifth gemstone, the birthstone of February.
About 100 mines are being approved for the best quality of amethysts internationally but most of them are closed at present and just one of them was devised as a cavern for tourists.
It is as wide 16,500m2 as the space to be able for a truck to pass and the inside of the cavern of 2.5km connected like a house of ants is 12℃ ~ 16℃ the whole year like a natural cavern and is unique.
There are various kinds of events like an exhibition center showing a vein of ore of amethyst, having experience of the miraculous energy from the amethyst, exhibition of things from the primitive life of the Papuan, the relics of Egyptians, the center of human history, the miniature of Dogdo island, reproduced National Treasure no 285 petroglyphs Bangudae and The thrilling acrobatic show it performed in the cavern.
Ulsan Grand Park
This large urban park is a popular recreational area that offers walking trails, lakes, and various outdoor activities. It provides a serene escape from the industrial landscape and is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike.
Taehwagang Grand Park
Situated along the Taehwa River, this park is known for its scenic beauty and is a popular destination for picnics, cycling, and leisurely walks. The park is especially vibrant during the cherry blossom season.
Educational Institutions
Ulsan is home to several universities and educational institutions, contributing to the city’s academic and cultural vibrancy.
Transportation
Ulsan is well-connected by road and rail. It has a modern transportation infrastructure that facilitates travel within the city and to other regions of South Korea.
While Ulsan is recognized for its industrial prowess, it also offers natural beauty, cultural attractions, and recreational spaces that make it a well-rounded city with a mix of urban and natural environments.
Location
Story
Actually, it is not recommended to visit the Eonyang Amethyst Cave on purpose. This area is hard to get to by public transportation, and there is nowhere to be big. We recommend you stay in the nearby Ulsan or Busan, which is an hour and a half away by car.
To put it simply, Eonyang Amethyst Taema Park is a small theme park in the countryside. You can think of it as PNE in Vancouver, Canada. Of course, the theme is different.
It’s very cheap because it’s about USD 10 including cave admission and boat tours. When you enter, you’ll feel incredibly cool around 20 degrees. The summer of 2013 we visited was well over 30 degrees and humid.
It is said that amethyst mining has been done for a long time, but I didn’t know exactly when it began. There was a story that started from the Joseon Dynasty, and there was also a story that started from the Three Kingdoms Period before that. In any case, traces of history remained everywhere.
There were places where you could take pictures everywhere, and there were cafes and experience centers, so you could relax while enjoying traditional Korean tea or coffee, and there were places where children could play.
There’s also a dinosaur theme park here, and you can feel a little bit of 1980s sensibility. I said I could feel the atmosphere of a theme park in the country, but if you look at the picture, you can see some dinosaurs moving a little bit. Be careful because you might cry if you bring too young babies.
In our case, the cave tour took about an hour. Of course, we rested at the cafe for a while. That’s how big the cave is. Caves contain a lot of water, so water often falls from the ceiling.
There’s a little bit of a classic character, a photo spot, and you can also see miniatures of the relics and living conditions of ancient civilizations around the world. You can also see the mummies as models.
After the cave tour, I came out and rode a boat. About 10 people were in the garden. I explored the lake, which isn’t even that wide, and I think it took about 5 to 10 minutes. The captain turned the boat around for fun, but it wasn’t that thrilling either. This is a video I took of the video below.
So far, I have introduced a rural theme park in Korea that is not very famous. Once again, if you have accommodation nearby, please visit. Eonyang is famous for bulgogi. Grilled Eonyang Bulgogi is also famous in Korea.
