“When the ship runs out of ocean and the vessel runs aground, land’s where we know the boat is found.” from the song “Women and Men” on the album Flood by They Might be Giants.

Historically, Koreans have not been known to be great seafarers, whalers and fisher-folk yes, but not seafarers in the great tradition of the Dutch, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. They did not sail the seas in search for gold, silks, spices or slaves. They did not sally forth to colonize far-flung places in the name of religion and civilzation, populating the world with their culture and language. In fact, they were once known, perhaps erroneously, as the Hermit Kingdom, rarely venturing beyond their peninsula.

It’s interesting then that so many boats and ships can be found on land, just in this small corner of the peninsula. A short drive around Ulsan resulted in this short photo essay of these ship-shape structures.

A Fish restaurant in Mugeodong

Kitschy and festooned with fishing gear, the restaurant promises fresh fish. Likely the only boat to have seen real water.

The Armfull - restaurant, garden, gift shop near Cheokgwa

This boat that appears to be more prop than propeller. If the concrete was in the original vessel it is no wonder it didn't last.

The Santa Beh. A pension in Sang-buk-ri near Seoknamsa temple in the Yangnam Alps

Someone went to a lot of trouble to make the hull look as if it were a real ship

The Paraiso, a pension in the Yangnam Alps

So ship-like they even keep a man to scrub the barnacles off the hull

Land Ho! A pension for those with a penchant for the sea but would rather stay in the mountains

Among all of the other building in and around the city, the only other distinct architectural shape created to resemble something other than a building is the mushroom.  The Korean fascination with boats and ships, however, has carried them to the highest pinnacle of globalization. Approximately 20% of the world ocean-going transport vessels are manufactured right here in South Korea. As evidenced by the Google Maps satellite photo below of the HHI shipyard in Dong-gu, the Koreans are seriously into making, if not commanding and sailing, enormous ships. Of course, based on the shapes, they might also simply be compensating for that other myth of Asian men.

Hyundai Heavy Industry shipyards in Bangeojin