For most of its history Korea was an independent kingdom, or at least an autonomous kingdom under Chinese influence. This came to an end in 1910 when Japan annexed all of Korea. At the end of World War II in 1945 the 38° parallel was established as the dividing line between U.S. and Soviet zones of occupation, and in 1948 separate civil administrations were established in the two halves of the country. The Korean War (1950-53) ended in a draw with the armistice line falling close to the prewar 38° line. The Republic of Korea (ROK), commonly called South Korea, occupies the Korean peninsula south of the armistice line. South Korea is divided into nine provinces and eight province-level cities. This page covers lighthouses of the metropolitan (province-level) city of Ulsan on South Korea's southeastern coast. The home of Hyundai Industries, Ulsan is a large, rapidly growing industrial city and seaport about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Busan. Itspopulation is more than 1.1 million. The Hyundai companies operate the world's largest shipyard and largest automobile assembly plant in the city. The city is divided into four districts (gu) and one county (gun). Navigational aids in the ROK are regulated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF). Management of lighthouses in Ulsan is the responsibility of the Ulsan Regional Oceans and Fisheries Administration. The Korean Hydrographic and Oceanographic Administration (KHOA) publishes notices to mariners. In 2000 South Korea adopted a Revised Romanization System to replace systems formerly used in the West. In the Revised System, the word for a lighthouse is deungdae (등대); dan (formerly tan) is a cape, seom (som) or do (to) is an island, am or amseog is a rock, man is a bay, and hang is a harbor. Some place names may be more familiar to Westerners in the spellings of older systems. The name Korea, used internationally, is a Western version of Goryeo or Koryŏ (고려), the name of a kingdom that unified the country in the tenth century. From 1392 to 1897 the kingdom was known instead as Joseon or Chosŏn (조선). Today South Koreans usually call their country Hanguk (한국, literally "one country") and the official name of the Republic of Korea is Daehan Minguk (대한민국). ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. KR numbers, where available, are from the Korean light list. Admiralty numbers are from volume M of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.
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![]() Jeongja North Breakwater Light, Buk-gu, Ulsan, November 2013 Google Maps (ex-Panoramio) photo by Yang-Hoon Lee |
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![]() Outer Breakwater West End Light, Ulsan, March 2014 (Onsan Hang Detached Breakwater South End Light in the background) ex-Panoramio photo copyright Kim Cheol Bong; used by permission |
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![]() Sin Hang East Breakwater (left) and South Breakwater Lights, Ulsan Ulsan Maritime Affairs and Port Administration photo |
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![]() Gangyang Light, Ulsan, April 2017 Google photo by Lee Jaeyong |
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![]() Ganjeolgot Light, Ulsan, June 2012 Ulsan Maritime Affairs and Port Administration photo |
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![]() Nasa Light, Ulgu County, May 2017 Google street view by Gang In-ho |
Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: North: Gyeongju | South: Northern Busan
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted October 29, 2007. Checked and revised November 17, 2023. Lighthouses: 49. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.