Journey Back in Time at Ulsan's Whale Culture Village
Are you ready to embark on a journey to the past?
At the Whale Culture Village in Jangsaengpo, Nam-gu, Ulsan, you can experience time travel.
Set off into the old Jangsaengpo village!
The Whale Culture Village is located in Nam-gu, where you can find the character <장생이>, inspired by the ghost whale, which symbolizes the area.
You can purchase souvenirs featuring this character.
From May to June, Ulsan hosts major festivals, making it a great time to visit and enjoy the festivities.
Starting May 20, 2026, the Jangsaengpo Monorail will resume operation, allowing you to reach the village without walking.
On May 23 (Saturday) at 8 PM, the Jangsaengpo Saturday Fireworks Festival will take place, featuring special performances from 6:30 to 8 PM, including hip-hop, jazz, and bubble shows.
This weekend, consider traveling to Jangsaengpo!
Major Festivals in Ulsan:
- May 20-25, 2026: Ulsan Rose Festival at Ulsan Grand Park
- June 19-21, 2026: Ulsan Taehwa River Madouhee Festival
- June 19-28, 2026: Jangsaengpo Hydrangea Festival
- October 2026: Ulsan Whale Festival
Ulsan Jangsaengpo is famous for its whales.
Since prehistoric times, Ulsan has been known as a whale city, featuring a whale museum that displays real whale skeletons and whaling artifacts, as well as the country's first dolphin aquarium.
Whale watching boats are also in operation.
Whales have long been regarded as mysterious creatures, traversing the five oceans and six continents.
Jangsaengpo was once a whaling site, and during the peak whaling years of the 1970s and 1980s, the population reached over 6,500 residents.
However, after the commercial whaling ban in 1986, whaling ceased, and most residents moved away as industrial complexes developed nearby, causing the village to shrink.
The Whale Culture Village, designed as if you’ve traveled back in time, brings smiles just by looking at it. Children can experience life as it was back then, enjoying the nostalgic atmosphere.
You'll find dolls representing the 'Ugly Three Brothers', a common sight in homes back then, along with thermos bottles and life-sized sculptures, allowing for a vivid experience of the past.
Although it may seem crowded due to the number of visitors, there are also quiet spaces to enjoy.
While we now order delivery via apps, there was a time when calling a Chinese restaurant meant receiving jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk delivered in a metal bag. Now, we can only experience this through time travel.
The entrance to the Chinese restaurant features a photo zone with a motorcycle.
A popular corner showcases old snacks, which are for display only and not for sale.
Seeing the snacks we enjoyed back in the day brought back so many memories!
There’s also a detailed photo exhibit of ghost whales, which sometimes peek above the water's surface, using two blowholes on the top of their heads to breathe.
When they exhale, the whale fountain can shoot water up to 3-4 meters, and the sound can be heard from about a kilometer away.
There's even a captain's house with a uniform on display.
You can also find a store selling old snacks.
It's a hit with families as parents share stories of the snacks they enjoyed in their childhood, and children can participate in making dalgona.
A police station is also part of the village, complete with a vintage telephone.
There’s a school, once known as the National School, featuring creaky green wooden desks and adorable children, creating a nostalgic school atmosphere.
May is a great time for outings—enjoy the flowers, whales, and festivals in Ulsan!
Note: The parking lot on the west side of the Whale Culture Special Zone is currently unavailable due to construction of the coaster cart. Please keep this in mind when parking!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224292336177
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