Ulsan is a very unique and underrated city for teaching English in South Korea. It definitely doesn’t have the hype of Seoul or Busan. However, just because you haven’t heard of it, doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great option for living and teaching! Here are just a few reasons why you might want to teach English in Ulsan, Korea.
Convenience of Ulsan
Ulsan is a medium sized city located on the South Eastern coast of the Korean peninsula. It has a population of roughly 1 million people. It falls into the sweet spot of “not too big, not too small.” You won’t miss out on any amenities, but you also won’t have to deal with the chaos and traffic of bigger cities like Seoul and Busan. Besides convenience, it also offers beautiful natural locations.
In particular, Ulsan is a fantastic alternative to Busan. Not only is Busan much bigger and more chaotic, it is also very hard to get teaching positions there. In fact, many Busan schools no longer need to recruit from abroad because there are so many teachers living in Busan looking for jobs. This city is a great option for having the coastal experience even if you don’t have as much teaching experience. It’s also only an hour from Busan by bus so you can easily get there on weekends.
Beautiful Nature in Ulsan
One of the biggest reasons to live here is the beautiful nature. The city even has a comprehensive list of its natural highlights: “The 12 Scenic Sights of Ulsan.” If you live in Ulsan (and enjoy nature), you will inevitably end up at all of these sights. For now, I want to highlight my personal favorites on the list. Taewha River Grand Park is in the middle of the city. It’s a beautiful park with a river flowing through the middle of it. The river eventually flows out into the Ulsan Bay. The river is lined with trails and walking paths so it’s a great place to go on a sunny day.
Adventure seekers must hike Mount Gaji. It boasts the tallest peak in Ulsan. The hike to the summit takes about 3 hours, but the view of endless wooded mountains at the top is well worth it. Paraeso Falls is another great spot. It is a quaint 15 meter high waterfall nestled into the woods. Along the coast, you must also check out Daewangam Songnim (Pine Forest). At the tip, a suspension bridge leads to a small rocky outcrop. It’s a great spot to sit on the rocks and feel the mist of the waves falling on you.
Hopefully now you know a little bit more about this city. It’s a great option for weekend trips or for yearlong contracts. Ulsan definitely offers a lot more than you might think!