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By Jason Wilson, August 9, 2010 9:24 pm

The Beautiful Person’s Notably Less Beautiful Sibling is a cruel phenomenon. Brad Pitt’s brother is like Brad Pitt with the magic taken away. Kiefer Sutherland has a twin sister who looks like him in a wig, and Patricia Bündchen is a pleasant-looking, plain-faced Brazilian, who just happens (so cruel) to have a non-identical twin called Gisele – The London Times

Since the movie ‘Haeundae’ released last year, throwing beach-goers into a bit of a tizz over what options they have for a pleasant weekend swim  without being washed into the next province, the search has been on for a beach less likely to attract the wrath of the water gods. After visiting Haeundae Beach myself and spotting a sign that indicated you’d have to be about 70 feet high (and dressed in a business suit) to escape the impending doom should a tsunami collide with this particular part of the east coast of Korea I decided enough was enough…there have to be other options out there that won’t result in you ending up swimming down the main street of Nampodong surrounded by agitated penis fish.

Songjeong Beach - As God intended

The good news is the answer lies only a short distance up the coast. Songjeong Beach, whilst undoubtedly being a close relation to Haeundae, lacks the glitz, glamour and celebrity of its southern neighbor. Sick of getting sand kicked in your face by the Armani-toting, high-heel wearing hordes that hit Haeundae Beach every weekend? There are no chain restaurants, fashion boutiques or subway stations here at Songjeong my friends, just good old-fashioned beachfront for you to enjoy at your leisure.

Typically, summer in Korea means you and a million of your closest friends sitting shoulder-to -shoulder on a thin expanse of beach sweating up a storm. Any thoughts of cooling off are tempered by the fact that the water looks a bit like the deep-fryer at Dunkin Donuts: inner tubes bobbing up and down within the 10 meter exclusion zone that separates you from everyone else and actually getting your hair wet. I’m not going to lie to you; summer at Songjeong Beach is pretty much exactly the same.  With the official Korean ‘Beach Opening’ date of July 1^st having now passed, it’s pretty much stacks on at the beaches for the next few weeks. However, come September 1st, when the lifeguards have left the beach with blistered lips and a semi-permanent pout due to 8 weeks of solid whistle-blowing, you’ll be free to wade in past the waist-deep mark. This is when Songjeong comes into its own.

You'll never make it to the horizon with this guy on watch!

When the crowds part and the lifeguards go home you’ll get a chance to not only swim unhindered by rules apparently made for people who would drown if they tripped and fell into a puddle, you’ll also have the opportunity to try out one of the water sports the beach caters for without having to stick to a token 20 metre wide area that might be fine if you’re finding your feet on a windsurfing board for the first time, or making like a teabag by lying on a longboard waiting for non-existent waves, but is not so good if you strike a day where there are actually waves available to catch and no room to catch them in.

Try your hand at the ancient Korean art of sail-wrestling

Previously, Songjeong had catered somewhat for the local surfing fraternity by allocating the ends of the beach for them to use during the busy summer period, however this year an email was sent to surfers in the area informing them that there’d be no surfing at either Haeundae or Songjeong between the hours of 9am to 6:30pm. The 20m wide area I mentioned above seems to be largely for use by surfing schools run at Songjeong and, while you can have a go at catching a wave, I’d imagine those of you who have been surfing for a while will get annoyed pretty quickly for several reasons. So, for now, it’s either head to the beach early or late to get a surf in, or wait until September the 1^st and you’ll be free to do whatever you please.

Hopefully this guy creates a bit of a wave

If you want to check the waves at Songjeong before you make your way over there then you can look online – (http://cafe.daum.net/sailing002), you’ll need to use Internet Explorer and install some plug-ins to see it though. It’s been down quite a lot lately too. A friend of mine is convinced the waves are good at Songjeong when he’s at school teaching, and bad on the weekends when he has some free time. If you want to use this as a guide, then his teaching hours are currently 9am – 5:30pm. However,  I’d advise checking the website personally.

If you do decide to visit Songjeong during the summer holiday period I have it on good authority that, in light of the recent Cheonan disaster, the lifeguards are going to be particularly strict when it comes to the designated 10m safe swimming zone this year. Apparently North Korean navy personnel have a similar eyesight problem to sharks – i.e, anything floating in the water could be seen as a potential target. So my advice is this: heed the lifeguard’s instructions, listen carefully for the whistle to tell you when you’re in an offside position, don’t employ any submarine-like flotation devices, and stay safe!

First-time windsurfers get a free puppy with every lesson

Songjeong’s Vital Statistics:

Getting there:

Bus: if you’re coming from Ulsan, make sure you get the bus that drops you off at Haeundae, otherwise you’ll face the mother of all journeys on the subway.

Train: The best option from Ulsan, the train stops at Songjeong and it’s a short walk down to the beach. Make sure you ask at the station though, as some trains skip Songjeong and stop at Haeundae.

Taxi: You might need one of these if you take the bus (or miss the stop on the train), costs about 4000 won from Haeundae.

Busy period: From July 1^st to August 31^st.

Surfing Lessons: There’s only one surf shop on Songjeong Beach, it’s at the northern end next to the Angel Anus coffee franchise. Lessons can be booked at Songjeong Surf Shop if you’re interested in surfing or wind-surfing. I think sea-kayaks are also available.

Eating and Drinking: The Blowfish Bar (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=82694435956&v=info) provides an array of Western foods if you’re looking for burgers or Mexican fare. It also recently won the award for ‘Best Burger in Busan’ in voting on the Busan Haps website. They also serve my personal favourite there – Maker’s Mark.

If you’d prefer some traditional food then there’s a kimbap restaurant next door to the Blowfish that serves the usual – kimbap, bibimbap, mandu and so on at very reasonable prices.

Coffee lovers are well catered for with an Angel Anus coffee franchise situated between The Blowfish Bar and Songjeong Surf Shop. There’s another coffee shop next door to the kimbap restaurant that offers reasonable coffee at decent prices.

Websites: http://cafe.daum.net/sailing002 (webcam)

Swell height: http://www.facebook.com/l/de91bGCBaAmCK1jWeeAbMzTlKqg;magicseaweed.com/Southern-Japan-MSW-Surf-Charts/61/

Songjeong forecast: http://www.facebook.com/l/de91bol6EbOOhQGAHJUyUyykQUg;www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=208542

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By Fin Madden, June 8, 2010 7:28 pm

While researching where the 2010 games would be shown around the city, I discovered this article about Ulsan from the 2002 World Cup.

The city was designated as a special industrial zone in 1962 and, within four months, had been upgraded to its present city status.

And in the space of 40 years it has developed from a sleepy fishing village into one the the country’s key industrial centres.

Today, Ulsan accounts for 12% of the nation’s entire industrial production.

One of the key names behind this expansion has been Hyundai.

 As well as cars, the company also has interests in oil refining, petrochemicals, ship building and machinery and, as a result, the city is set for further growth in the 21st century. Hyundai, which produces 1.4 million cars a year, is one of South Korea’s big five jaebol.

Jaebol are family-run conglomerates founded on government-subsidised loans and there are 30 in total in the country.

As well as Hyundai, the other big name jaebols are Samsung, Daewoo, LG (Lucky Goldstar) and SK (Sunkyong).

The change in the city’s fortunes, quite literally, is not wholly surprising.

People of the Gyeongsangdo are renowned as being go-getters.

They are short-tempered and very decisive, making clear-cut decisions when opportunities present themselves.

That is not to say that the city is purely a hard-edged commercial centre.

The stadium at Ulsan, that will host three World Cup matches, is one of the most striking in the competition and boasts a beautiful backdrop.

With sea on one side and rising mountains on the other, the city offers some beautiful backdrops, not least to the World Cup stadium. Beaches dot the coast and two of the most picturesque are Jujeon and Jinhu.

Jujeon is notable for its black pebbles, while Jinhu is surrounded by pine trees.

And, despite its modernity, the city also exhibits its history.

The Petroglyphs of Bangudae are also on the coast.

Patterns, people and animals from the mid-Neolithic to early Iron Age are carved across a vast area of rocks.

The Stone Carvings of Cheonjeon-ri further inland show similar scenes from the Silla period, engraved on huge spherical stones.

The Seoknamsa temple of Mount Gajisan also dates from the Silla period.

As well as housing numerous artefacts of the era it also hosts meetings of female monks.

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By Jason Wilson, May 3, 2010 10:00 am

Those of you eagerly anticipating the annual Ulsan Whale Festival will no doubt be feeling a little let down at the moment as news filters out that it’s been postponed until July 1^st. As one of the only events around that distinguishes between people who love whales and people who love whales on toast, you might be currently asking yourself where you’re going to go now to get your fix of ancient whaling culture and whale d’oeuvres. The answer is the port area of Jangsaengpo,  around 20 minutes by bus from Samsan-dong.

Jangsaengpo is the traditional home of all things related to ‘inviting’ a whale back for afternoon tea by jamming a pointy stick in its skin and dragging it to shore. It’s a practice that was carried out in this very area over hundreds of years, and one that is recorded in great detail in the Bangudae Petroglyphs near Eonyang. These days things are a little quieter on the whaling front but you can still head down to the port to visit the whale museum, go on a whale-watching cruise or (if you’re that way inclined) nibble on various parts of a whale’s body.

Jangsaengpo Whale Emporium

The Jangsaengpo Whale Museum (9am – 6pm, Tues – Sun) provides us with a view back to a time when whaling was a major industry in Ulsan. These days whaling itself is illegal in Korea unless the whale ends up as ‘by-catch’, a product of being caught in fisherman’s nets. This is the official story anyway, whether or not fisherman are tempted to set their lines illegally to increase their chances of ‘accidentally’ catching a (financially quite rewarding) whale is an argument for another time. And probably not one you should have in line to purchase tickets for the whale museum.

Unfortunately they got this guy just before he made it to the bus stop...and freedom.

You can get your tickets to the whale museum from the rather distinctive-looking ticket booth on the harbor-side. Form two orderly lines underneath the bodysurfing whale and before you know it you’ll be the proud owner of an access all areas pass to three floors of whale(ing) memorabilia and information.  If you can convince the person at the ticket booth you’re a ‘person of national merit’ you’ll get in for free. If that doesn’t work try convincing them you’re an Ulsan resident, a much easier proposition, and you’ll enjoy a 500 won discount on the full price.

Whale graffiti on the way to the Whale Experience building

Look down in the pool...is it a whale!?...is it a dolphin!?

You have the option of exploring two buildings at the Whale Museum – the Exhibition Building and the Whale Experience Building. If you would like to explore the latter you’ll have to ask for an extra ticket at the booth on your way in. Our first port of call was the 4D Whale Experience room. Here you can experience what life was like back in the day when people used to live in submarines and get chased by giant squid, before being saved by an equally large Beluga whale. It was a bit like being a Snork. As you probably know, 4D means you get to feel like you’re immersed in the action. Not only do you get the impression you’re about to be hit in the face by a squid tentacle, you also get sprayed with a watery mist that may or may not be whale urine.

Installation celebrating the passage of the whale through the human digestive tract

Probably the most confronting display at the whale museum is the collection of whale and dolphin fetuses in the Whale Experience building. If you’d find that sort of thing a little too difficult to handle then avoid the first room on the right as you enter the building at all costs. The room doubles as a dolphin-viewing area, but you’ll be able to see them in the afore-mentioned tunnel or upstairs as well.

The main building at the whale museum is home to three floors of information on the old whaling practices of the area and educational resources to help us understand more about the whales that inhabit this particular part of the world. Once you’re past the ticket office at the entrance on the 2^nd floor you’ll find yourself dwarfed by a huge skeleton of a Bryde’s whale hanging from the roof. This floor contains quite a bit of information on the area’s whaling history, a replica of the Bangudae Petroglyphs, quite a few whale bones and artifacts, and (in what seems to be a common theme) some guy pointing a harpoon at them. Fortunately his eyesight seems to be pretty poor as he’s pointing it in the general direction of the petroglyphs. 

Keeping watch

At least he was happy when he went!

  On the 3^rd floor of the main building you’ll find information on the Gray Whale including a sound bite of its cry, a model of its full body and skull and a video showing its feeding patterns. “Enough of all this touchy-feely stuff, what do they taste like?”, I hear you cry. They’ve included pictures and models of a whale processing facility, a fat-rendering mill and a diagram showing us what different parts of a whale’s body can be used for, so if you accidentally catch one you’ll know what to do. You can basically follow the natural life-cycle of a Gray Whale from birth to becoming soap. After this it’s down the stairs to the cheerily named ‘Children’s Adventure Hall’ on the 1^st floor.

How to get oil from a whale

In the kids area the education gets ramped up a notch and the nastier stuff gets left behind somewhat. You can find out lots of information about many different whales and find out what goes into their stomachs. The answer, amongst other things, is you. You’ll be looking from the inside out as plankton and other fishy things line the walls of the replica whale stomach. You can also compare the difference in weight between you and a whale and check out the ecology lab. If you’re brave you can enter the mysteriously named ‘Date Room’. I have no idea what’s in there, but it’s either a place to go and canoodle with a loved one or a room full of whale’s bums*.

*‘Date’ is Australian slang for ‘bum’ – something for the lessons this week.

If you’ve been inspired to try to get up close to one of the local whales after visiting the museum you can try a whale-watching tour, they leave from a dock about 100m back up the road from the entrance to the museum. From April to October the tours run on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 1pm. If you’re an Ulsan resident the prices are 20,000 won for adults and 10,000 won for children. If you organize a group of 20 or more a special discount applies and you’ll pay 15,000 won and 7000 won respectively.

The Whale watching vessel: Don't expect to be let on if you bring a knife and fork

On the other hand, if you’ve been inspired to engage in a bit of scientific research on the local whales with a pair of chopsticks, then you just have to wander across the road to one of the many whale meat restaurants lining the harbor. There’s one directly opposite the museum. Whale meat’s not cheap though, so be prepared to pay a bit of money to taste something unusual.

Wondering (scientifically) about the effects of whale on the tongue? This street attempts to answer all your questions.

A whale-eating institute across from the museum

After my visit to the museum I took a walk down the main street. The message you get from the museum, whale-watching tour and whale meat restaurants all in the same area is a somewhat confusing one, so I thought I’d just wander around and take in the harbor. On the way back to the car I spotted this happy-go-lucky little fellow:

Enjoying Anonymity

 At that point it kind of dawned on me what Jangsaengpo Port was all about. Sure, it has a pretty muddy history as a whaling port and there are still whale meat restaurants there now. However, if you’re a dog then Jangsaengpo must be one of the safest places in Korea to be.  The look on this little guy’s face said it all…this place is a dog sanctuary.

Getting There: Take bus #246 from near the Ulsan intercity bus terminal to Jangsaengpo harbor.

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By Jason Teale, March 17, 2010 3:47 pm

This week marks one of the most interesting cultural festivals in Korea, The Bull Fights. The small city of Cheongdo will be filled with people this weekend to watch the bulls push each other around. If you want to experience a more traditional side of things here in Korea, take a trip out to Cheongdo this weekend.

The English title of this event seems to get a lot of criticism from many a waygook believing that the event is similar to Spanish Bullfighting. This event is quite different and I believe the true translation of the event into English should say “Bull Wrestling”  because that is in fact sort of what is happening.

The bulls square off in the ring and their trainers encourage them to lock horns. They will push each other around for a bit and when one bull backs off, the other wins. Rarely is their any blood shed and the bulls are seemingly taken care of. Fact is, I have even seen a bull/trainer lip-lock. However strange that maybe, these bulls won’t get their heads lopped off after the event.

The Event goes on from March 17th to Sunday, March 21st, 2010. Tickets will run you about 5,000 won at the gate. For more information please check out their website HERE

Cheongdo is about 30 minutes from Daegu and about an hour or so from Ulsan. Check with the tourism people to see if there are shuttle buses set up to go to the event. If not, like most places in Korea, you can get there by bus or train. I would recommend taking your motorcycle out there because once you get into the town, traffic is a nightmare and the stadium sits on the outskirts of the town. There are shuttle buses that take you to the event but are usually packed with old people. Do not take a taxi from the station to the event! it will cost you a ton of money and with the insane traffic, you won’t get there any faster.

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By Martin Rehder, January 15, 2010 4:58 am

If getting some snow under your skis or snowboard is something you like doing, you should definitely checkout the latest trip planned for Ulsan. Jared Engalls, master planner of all things fun here in Ulsan, has organized a bus trip to Phoenix Park in Gangwondo for January 30.  The link goes to a facebook event – if you’re not on facebook, email me and I’ll get you hooked up – and has all the details of cost/time/place/etc.

Currently, the trip is slated for a day trip with an early 3:50a.m. departure here in Ulsan, a full day of skiing in Gangwondo and a return to Ulsan in time to cleanup and hit the bars. All for the miniscule price of 100K won.

Who says there’s nothing to do in this town?

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By Josey Bartlett, December 3, 2009 5:23 pm

Temple-stays in Busan let us non-monks get a peak at life in the temple: 108 bows, waking at 3am, sacred silence, and a quest for happiness.

Our translator described enlightenment as a clear pond. A person can immediately see a drop of red dye in crystal water, she said. However, a drop of red dye in dirty water disappears. Likewise, an unhappy mind cannot quickly identify the root of unhappiness, anger, and greed. However, a happy enlightened mind can swiftly see the cause of negative thoughts and stop them. Our temple stay group was told that Buddhists believe that unhappy thoughts are not real, but shadows that our mind produce, that only we can stop.

Buddhists seek happiness. The head Monk of the Beomeosa Temple said that many people chase rainbows their whole life. They look for money, love, and fame to make them happy. But when they come to the end of their rainbow, the end of their lives, they are not truly happy nor enlightened.He said “I have no hair, no money, no girl friend, but I am happy. Happiness does not come from eating a lot, sleeping a lot, speaking loudly and often, or finding true love. Happiness must be found within our self.” ( All monks that spoke to us had great senses of humor. They giggled and made comments about their shiny bald heads. Perhaps this comes with enlightenment?). He said taking little and contentment with this lifestyle equals true happiness.

But he did not condemn marriage, just said do not depend on another, on love, for it; for happiness, a person must create on their own. If we rely on the person we love for our happiness they will always fall short. This will create resentment.

So make yourself happy then if you want, find a person to share this with. So wise, wise one.

Ten paintings on the backside of the meditation building depicted a boy and an ox. The boy finds the ox, befriends it, and over time the ox turns from brown to white, the boy rides the ox, and eventually the ox walks away. Metaphorically this represents enlightenment. It takes time and in the end one must ignore it, because to be bragging or always aware of a higher state does not represent true enlightenment at all.

The ox not only appears in Buddhist art but also myth. In the middle of Beomeosa Temple court-yard, inside a pagoda sits a massive drum made of cow hide. Interesting since Buddhist are vegetarians. However, legend has it that one monk many years ago predicted he would come back on a certain day at a certain hour. He told the monks to eat him and enjoy the meat. Once eaten he would help the monk reach enlightenment.

The Monks beat the drum like a stomp performance on Broadway stage, even at 3am when this bleary eyed foreigner had trouble focusing her drifting contacts and still ached from the 108 full bows (on my knees, nose to the ground) the night before.

Three hours later at 6am we ate breakfast. Eating in the temple is a ritual. Each person has four bowls that must be arranged a certain way, unwrapped from its swaddling cloth a certain way, then cleaned a certain way. We ate in silence. The monk who ate with us finished much quicker than us, and sat quietly meditating. When done each person must scrub their dish with their yellow radish, drink the dirty water when done, and finally eat the radish. Waste not.

To reach Beomeosa, from Ulsan University take the 1127 city bus to Nopodong. Get off the bus and go one stop on the subway to Beomeosa station. Take bus 90 to the temple. Reserve a spot prior to temple stay.

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By Martin Rehder, November 12, 2009 6:41 pm

Many people have heard of Andong because of its famous Mask Festival in the fall.  One of the largest of festivals, it attracts travellers from around the world.  Skip the mask dance, which I find to be somewhat hokey and explore Hahoe Village instead.

Hahoe Village is a  relic of the Joseon Dynasty. Dating from over 600 years ago with architectural styles that are a throwback to an earlier, simpler time.  In the village, you’ll find tile-roof style homes, typical of the aristocratic members of the village. The servants homes will  be simple thatched-roofs.

Thatched roofs are common among the traditional homes

A long alleyway between homes, likely the aristocrat on the left and his servants on the right.

A leisurely walk among the homes reveals that these are not just homes set up for show, full of kitchy souvenirs or placards describing their history. These are actual homes, still occupied by the residents, many of whom are descendants of the original Yu clan who founded the village.

My favorite part was this ancient tree in the center of the village.  Although it is probably several smaller trees that have merged trunks over the years, it is absolutely massive in its breadth. Visitors tie ribbons of prayers and wishes around the base of it.

This magnificent Ginkgo tree in the center of the village is surrounded by wishes and prayers tied to the rope

Probably prohibited, but that never stopped us from climbing this ancient tree

We visited Andong in the spring, just before the cherry blossoms were fully bloomed. There were many that had, but a greater number were still in the merging stage. Still, the place was magical with color, texture and history.

Coolor and shape blend nature and man-made structure

A Tidy and colorful front yard of this home and min-bak - a room for rent.

Yes, there are masks in Andong. And hats. Even hats that Koreans do not wear

Of course, there are souvenirs, but not in the village itself. The mask, snack and totem vendors are all safely away from the village so as not to cheapen the experience. This mask vendor, however, couldn’t resist putting on a hat and attempting to wave us in to buy as we passed. Somehow, the hat just doesn’t fit; it looks somewhat…Vietnamese to me.

If you make it to Hahoe village, be sure to check out the International Mask Museum, which is located just outside the village. Masks are a worldwide tradition among humans and this small museum does a good job of encapsulating that. It’s worth the extra hour you’ll spend in it.

Getting to Andong is relatively easy. Take the intercity bus, of which there are several each day. Major highways travel through Andong as well, making a day trip in a car quite easy.

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By Fin Madden, November 6, 2009 1:14 am

Bitch and moan all you will about the ugliness of your average Korean city, but bitch about the ugliness of the countryside, and I’ll call you crazy. Korea, as we all know, is 70% mountainous, but what most of us don’t know is how to take advantage of this fact. The highways cut through them, the buses don’t stop at them, the train speeds past them and the cars are all stuck in traffic jams. How can you got there? By bike.

Bike trips are truly and honestly the ONLY way to see Korea. People are friendlier when you’re on a bike, more likely to chat. The quality of the roads is good, and always improving. The condition of the roads, even the smallest country lanes, are usually fantastic, the kind of condition that Canadians can only dream about. There are always multiple choices of route, so going there is never the same as coming back.

This is a series of photos I’ve takes this fall, from Namhae, Goeje, Andong, Taebaek and other spots in between.

Riding home through Gyeongju

Outside Andong

Just outside of Andong

The quiet beauty of Korean Mountains

Looking back

Enjoying mountain roads

The tombs in Changnyeong, older than Gyeongju

Waves crashing in Gangwondo

Old army post in Gangwondo

You can stop and take photos anywhere

Looking onwards to our wet road home, Taebaek

Night falls over Taebaeksan

Heading into a tunnel in Gangwondo

Honda CB400...the only way to see Korea

2 hours North Pohang towards Taebaek

On top of Muryeongsan, between Hwabongdong and Gangdongdong

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By Fin Madden, November 1, 2009 8:18 pm

Brian in Jeolnamdo, a favourite blogger, has written in the Korea Herald about the benefits of the love motel and the changes. I’m an avid traveller around Korea, and I always stay in Love Motels. I’ve found that there are 5 levels of accomodation in Korea. At the bottom, there is the Yogwan (usually has the same symbol as the saunas). These are the cheapest, running from 20 to 35 thousand won for a night. They are usually the sleaziest, dirtiest, and most conveniently located in old downtowns. Then, the Love Motel, which usually is found in the newer areas, like the Samsandong corridor of Love motels near Ulsan station. Love motels should cost between 30 and 40 thousand, and come with big tvs, jacuzzis, computers and sometimes a fun surprise like a dildo vending machine or a sex chair.

After love motels come tourist hotels. Tourist hotels are difficult to find and over priced. The good news is that they are always surrounded by love motels. After tourist hotels come business hotels. Business hotels share a lot in common with tourist hotels, except that they are actually worth the money. Business hotels should always be modern and professional (the kind of place you’d let your parents stay). Finally, there is the luxury hotel. Lotte and Hyundai fall into this category. Both cost too much for the services provided, when there are other good business hotels in the city.

The other options for sleeping include the minbak, the pension and the condo. Minbaks are basically a room of a house that has no beds, and only traditional floor sleeping. They are most popular with the university student crowd. Take 10 buddies, get pissed, sleep on the floor. Pensions are quickly becoming very popular, especially at the seaside. Pensions are usually western style cottages that can cost around 100 000 won a night,but can be much more expensive. Given a beautiful location, they are a great choice. Finally there is the condo, condos are half way between business hotel and luxury hotel, and found in Korean vacation hotspots like Bomun lake in Gyeongju.

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By Fin Madden, October 26, 2009 4:46 am

Sports complex? How complex are sports. Ball, net…foot, hand, stick. Really, they aren’t complex at all. The full name of the Stadium is..The Ulsan Munsu World Cup Sports Complex Stadium, or something like that.

At first glance there is a brilliant, if underused, soccer stadium. It was built at the cost of 120 million dollars to Hyundai (yup, believe it or not). There’s more though. The stadium is home to the World Cup cough Museum (3 or 4 soccer jerseys) a Wedding Hall (that isn’t soccer themed) a K-League soccer team (the Hyundai Tigers) an outdoor training pitch and a rose garden.

But it’s on the second inspection that the stadium becomes a complex, and not the kind of complex that you’ve been hiding from your boss and your girlfriend. There’s the lake, with brilliant walking trail circling it. The lake now has duck paddle boats and a lotus garden.

Further you’ll find (to the right of the stadium on a hilltop) the rollerblading area and short track, the lawn bowling, tennis (including clay) and shooting club (airguns…don’t get excited). Beyond this area there is the drive-in theatre.

Near the lake there is the Munsu swimming pool. Though, it’s more than just a swimming pool. In fact, its 4 pools. A children’s, a training, an olympic AND a full diving pool with the 2, 3 and 5 (or whatever) boards. This deep pool is also used for scuba diving training. This pool is a world class facility, and only costs 3500 won for a days swimming.

Behind the stadium there is a baseball park, and to the very left of the complex is the massive World Archery Stadium. Which, I’ve been told by participants in this years championships, is better than even the Beijing facilities….making Ulsan an archery hub…enough of that talk though.

Munsu is also connected to the Namgu encirling 22km hiking/mountain biking trail that links Taehwa rotary to Munsu, Ulsan Grand Park and the Suam dam park. If you want a brilliant experience of a wilderness hike in the city and a tour of the recreation facilities of Ulsan.