Ulsan trip with history study and beautiful scenery | Travel Course | K-Travel Mate

Built in 1417 (17th year of King Taejong's reign), Ulsan Byeongyeongseong is a typical Joseon-era town fortress constructed on a low hill under 45m in elevation. It served as the garrison for the Gyeongsangjwa-do Byeongmado Jeolje Military Command. The fortress has an oval-shaped layout, measuring approximately 1.2 km in circumference and about 3.7 m in height. Initially, it only had basic facilities such as yeojang (low parapets on the fortress walls for protection). During King Sejong's and King Munjong's reigns, additional defensive structures including ongseong (bastions), jeokdae (watchtowers), and haejai (moats) were added. Records indicate the existence of wells, trenches, and warehouses inside. There is a legend that to move the former military command site to Gibak Mountain Fortress, red flags were planted around its perimeter. Suddenly, a fierce gust blew from the East Sea, carrying one flag on a whirlwind southward; following this direction led to the current fortress site. This reflects the people’s wish to build the fortress at a geopolitically auspicious place to protect against foreign invasions and safeguard the county. The fortress, which guarded the southeastern coastal area for a long time, was damaged during the Imjin and Jeongyu Japanese invasions as troops stationed nearby took stones from it to build Ulsan Japanese Castle. In modern times, urban development left only the fortress ruins until restoration efforts began in 2010, returning much of the fortress to its original form.

외솔 최현배 선생은 울산에서 태어나 ‘한글 맞춤법 통일안’ 제정에 주도적으로 참여했으며 많은저서를 통한 끊임없는 창의적 우리말 글 펴기에 전력을 다했으며, 한글 연구와 보급에 힘썼다.

Taehwagang National Garden is an eco-friendly ecological garden surrounding the first-class water ecological river Taehwagang, located in the heart of the city and accessible without time limits, making it a key spot for tourism in Ulsan. However, the information center, providing promotion, exhibitions, and garden explanations, operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Milky Way Path, one of the garden's attractions, operates daily from sunset until 11 p.m. It spans a total area of 835,452㎡ across Jung-gu and Nam-gu in Ulsan Metropolitan City and consists of six spaces: ecology, bamboo, seasonal, aquatic plants, participation, and rose of Sharon. Especially noted is the Silly Daesup (ten-ri bamboo forest), famous for the clear sound of bamboo leaves in the wind and its serene, beautiful path. Various programs such as gardening for toddlers and family-based garden experiences are also offered. Nearby attractions include Taehwaru, Donggulpia, the migratory bird promotion hall, Daewangam Park, Ganjeolgot where the sun rises first in the East Sea, Bangudae Petroglyphs preserving prehistoric history and culture, Sinbulsan Reed Field, Gangdong and Jujeon's pebble beaches, Ulsan Grand Park, and Ulsan Bridge, showcasing a blend of nature and urban scenery. ◎ Travel information to experience the charm of the Korean Wave - The drama features Lee Jae, who is reincarnated as a mother and visits this place in memories of her own mother. The garden, created along the Taehwagang with six themes, boasts uniformly beautiful scenery. In the drama, Lee Jae’s sad expression contrasting with the beautiful scenes moved viewers to tears.

A small island located in the sea at Dongjin Port, a fishing village at the end of Bangeojin Port. Most of the island is composed of sandstone. The densely packed holes in the rocks seem to have been formed by shellfish burrowing into the hardened sandstone. Around Seuldo, the sea is shallow with scattered small reefs. It is a rocky island that blocks the strong waves entering Bangeojin Port, and it is called Seuldo (瑟島) because the sound of the waves hitting the rocks is said to resemble a geomungo (Korean zither). Viewed from the sea, Seuldo looks like an overturned siru (a traditional Korean steamer), so it is also called Siru Island, or Gomboseom because the whole island is covered with pockmarked stones (wang-gombo stones). Seuldo’s wave sounds, called Seuldo Myeongpa (瑟島鳴波), are one of the 12 scenic spots of Bangeojin. You can walk to the island along the Bangeojin breakwater. An unmanned lighthouse built in the late 1950s stands alone guarding Seuldo. Various fish species inhabit the area, attracting continuous visitors for fishing. Nearby are live fish markets and sashimi restaurants, and it is recommended to visit Daewangam Park in the vicinity as well.

Daewangam Park is the location of Daewangam, where the sun rises the earliest in Korea along with Ganjeolgot in Ulju-gun. Daewangam Park, located at the pointed end extending toward the East Sea from the southeastern tip of Korea, is also famous for the Ulgi Navigation Lighthouse that guides ships in the East Sea. The 600-meter path from the park entrance to the lighthouse is shaded by a dense pine forest, offering coolness and coziness under tall century-old pine trees. Beyond the pine woods, the open coastal cliffs resemble a cluster of gigantic rocks, evoking the illusion of prehistoric dinosaur fossils lying in the blue sea. Legend tells that after the death of Queen Munmu, wife of King Munmu who unified the Three Kingdoms of Silla, she became a guardian dragon and sank under Daewangam in the East Sea of Ulsan. Besides Daewangam, the park is filled with sights such as Namgeun Rock, oddly shaped and said to nearly cause harm when attempts were made to topple it, Tanggeon Rock, Suicide Rock, the rocky islet floating near the shore, and Cheonyeobong. On the right side of the rocky coast is the old Bangojin Fisheries Middle School, founded by the late Lee Jong-san, and beneath it extends about 500 meters of pebble beach that enhances the charm of the rocky coastline.