A special trip to Ulsan with a whale that looks just like you

A Special Trip to Ulsan with a Whale That Looks Just Like You

Travel to Ulsan Begins with a Travel Personality Test

Take the travel personality test on the smart tourism platform for Ulsan, and you'll get your very own pet whale as a gift! The pet whale spins around and blows out hearts when you pet it. Plus, you can earn food and raise it, so you'll never get bored on your trip. Once you arrive in Ulsan, the whale will start chatting with you. If you're in Ulsan, you can receive a special items. You can dress up your baby whale with unique items from Ulsan and raise it as your own. It's a great way to explore Ulsan with the AR camera and capture and share photos of yourself with the whale on the move.

 
 



Take a Trip Back in Time to Whale Culture Village, Where You can Experience a Retro Vibe

Your first stop is Whale Culture Village. You'll need a Whale Pass to get through the ticket office. For added value, consider purchasing a Big 4 Pass, which provides access to Whale Culture Village, Whale Museum, Whale Ecology Experience Center, and ROKS Ulsan (FF-951) at a 32% discount.

Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village, which opened in 2015, does an excellent job of recreating the atmosphere of Jangsaengpo Port in the 1960s and 1970s. It evokes fond memories for adults and creates a retro vibe for the younger generation.

 

Inside Whale Village, you'll find places that sell nostalgic foods like old-fashioned noodles, old-fashioned jjajangmyeon, and old-fashioned shaved ice with red bean paste. The Old-School Lunchbox includes a silver box with eggs, stir-fried kimchi, fried anchovies, pink sausage, and rice.

 

As you explore the alleys, make sure to visit the large whale dissection site, Whale Sculpture Park, and Hydrangea Garden, all of which are must-see attractions in the village.

The World of Fantastic Media Art

Whales Fantasium, situated at the top of the village, is the standout attraction in Whale Culture Village. Revamped with whale-themed media art in May, it has quickly become a popular destination. The space that depicts the Petroglyphs of Bangudae Terrace brings the animals in the petroglyphs to life in a really cool way.

The screen introduces visitors to the four seasons and some of Ulsan’s most famous places. The digital aquarium, Oceanarium, is full of adorable whales with their own distinctive characteristics. You can even upload your own pet whale to the Oceanarium. It's great to see it swimming in the sea with its friends.



   

The World of Whales, including the Whale Museum and the Whale Ecology Experience Center and More



The monorail running between the Whale Museum and Whale Culture Village offers a scenic and relaxing ride, providing some amazing views of the sea at Jangsaengpo Port and the Ulsandaegyo Bridge.

 

At the Whale Museum, you can learn all about whales firsthand, including seeing a giant gray back whale hanging from the ceiling. There's a family of dolphins that live at the Whale Ecology Experience Center. As you enter the underwater tunnel aquarium, you'll see a family of dolphins swimming overhead. On the second floor, you can watch the dolphins exercise and learn more from the zookeeper at feeding time, which is three times a day.

Explore a Book Cafe with Ocean Views

The Jangsaengpo Cultural Warehouse (officially known as A-FACTORY), located about 1.5 km from Whale Culture Village, is another retro-style attraction. The abandoned cold storage warehouse was reborn as a cultural complex and was selected as one of the 'Top 100 Local Attractions' by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism last year.

 

The first floor serves as a stage for busking performances, while the second floor houses the Ulsan Industrial Center Construction Memorial Hall. It vividly conveys the inner workings of Ulsan, offering an immersive look at Ulsan’s pivotal role in Korea’s industrialization. The third and fourth floors are exhibition halls where you can see various local arts. On the 6th floor is the book cafe “Jigwanseoga Jangsaengpo Branch,” which is unique in Ulsan. It is a charming cafe where you can read books while drinking coffee.

Written and photographed by Yu Eun-yeong (Travel writer)