Ulsan, metropolitan city, southeastern South Korea. Ulsan has the status of a metropolitan city under the direct control of the central government, with administrative status equal to that of a province. At the eastern end of the Taebaek Mountains, facing the East Sea (Sea of Japan), on Ulsan Bay, it lies about 45 miles (72 km) north-northeast of Busan. It is the heart of the country’s special industrial area known as the Ulsan Industrial District.
Until 1962, when the city was connected by rail and highway with Seoul, Busan, Daegu, and Daejeon, it was primarily a fishing port and a market center for agricultural products (especially pears) from the Ulsan plain and the delta of the Taehwa River. By the end of the first five-year economic plan (1966), the city had become an open port with major manufacturing plants, and by the late 20th century it was one of the country’s most significant industrial hubs. A free-trade zone was established in the early 21st century. Among the city’s major industries are automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, and shipbuilding. An airport located on the outskirts of Ulsan provides domestic service. Munsu Stadium was the venue for some of the 2002 football (soccer) World Cup championship matches. Pop. (2020) 1,135,423.