Korean Job Discussion Forums

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

I was told by a student many years ago that Ulsan was the most polluted city in Korea.
Is it?
If not, how awful is it?

andrewchon · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 3:06 am Post subject:

I've been to Ulsan and despite the forest of petrochemical stacks, I didn't think the air was any worse than where I live. As for what's in the soil and ground water, who can tell?

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

it's much better than what it used to be. but still very polluted.

DJTwoTone · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 5:55 am Post subject:

Yeah... Ulsan isn't any worse than any where else in Korea... In fact... The river is actually the cleanest in Korea at the moment...

That said... I hate the water it's really hard... I never feel clean after a shower in Ulsan...

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Tue Oct 20, 2009 6:09 am Post subject:

Coming from the fresh air of the mountainous north, I drove through Ulsan on my way to Pusan last summer. My gf and I were both amazed at the level of air pollution and the stink of it was noticable. I even took a few photos of all the haze among the towering smoke stacks.

We both agreed to go around Ulsan no matter the cost of time or fuel next time. Being an industrial city the roads and traffic are also confusing and bad.

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

The air quality in Ulsan varies depending on the area. For example the Bangeojin area closer to the factories is more polluted, but Namgu, for example has better air quality.

You can check the air quality index for different parts of the peninsula here (in English):
http://www.airkorea.or.kr/airkorea/eng/index.jsp

PohangCanuck · Joined: 22 Oct 2008

I lived in Ulsan for my first year in Korea, it wasn't to bad. Most of the heavy industry is outside the city center. For my second year I lived in Pohang and that was alot worse. Every morning I left for work and got to see the POSCO steel mill pumping out the smog.

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

It definitely depends where you are. North of the river is much better than south, especially once you get into the industrial areas. I've been told that the north is similar in pollution to parts of Seoul.

Ulsan used to be a lot worse than it is now (or so I hear, since I've only been here a year). Lots of pollution, ugly, no parks, etc. Now it's pretty decent.

El Capitan · Joined: 30 Apr 2009

I'm in Ulsan right now and to tell you the truth I've never noticed a higher pollution level than anywhere else in Korea. Most of the industry is outside the city so you'll likely never even see it. Ulsan has been making steps in recent years to clean itself up and clean up it's national image as "most polluted city." Seems it's working, at least half anyway.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

I was in Ulsan a couple of weeks ago over Chuseok, & never saw any smog.

http://www.treklens.com/members/chrisJ/photos/Asia/South_Korea/South/Ulsan/

http://beta.trekearth.com/members/ChrisJ/photos/Asia/South_Korea/South/Ulsan/

martypants · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Ulsan, South Korea

I've been in Ulsan off and on for five years. It used to be way nasty. I go rock climbing alot and only rarely could I see the ocean from my fav. mountain. These days I can almost always see it. Go down to the petro-chemical complex (we call it Mordor) and its definitely skanky air.