Ulsan HD
Ulsan HD FC is a South Korean professional football club founded in 1983 and based in Ulsan, competing in the K League 1. The club plays their home matches at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium and is owned by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Throughout their history, Ulsan HD have achieved remarkable success, winning the league title five times (most recently in 2024), the Korean FA Cup once in 2017, and claiming the AFC Champions League twice in 2012 and 2020, making them the only club to win the continental tournament twice without defeat.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Ulsan HD FC, formerly known as Ulsan Hyundai FC, was established on December 6, 1983, as Hyundai Horang-i, with the tiger serving as its mascot. The club initially represented Incheon and Gyeonggi Province before moving to various locations and finally settling in Ulsan in 1990. They joined the professional K League in 1984 and have since become one of South Korea's most successful football clubs.
Most recent season and achievements
In the 2024 season, Ulsan HD successfully defended their league title, securing their third consecutive championship under manager Kim Pan-gon. This achievement established a dynasty for the club, marking their fifth K League 1 title overall. The team also recorded their highest average attendance in 2024, with 348,119 fans across 19 home games, demonstrating their growing popularity.
History
Early years
The club was founded on December 6, 1983, as Hyundai Horang-i, with the tiger as its mascot. Their original franchise area covered Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Upon joining the professional K League in 1984, they finished their debut season in third place, with striker Baek Jong-chul becoming the K League Top Scorer with 16 goals in 28 matches. The club won their first professional trophy in 1986, claiming the Professional Football Championship, which later became the Korean League Cup. From 1987, the club relocated their franchise to Gangwon Province, and in 1988, they finished as league runners-up.
Successful period
Beginning in 1990, the club moved to Ulsan, where the headquarters of their parent company Hyundai are located. Former South Korea striker Cha Bum-kun took over as manager in 1991, leading the club to a runners-up position in his debut season. After Ko Jae-wook replaced Cha Bum-kun in 1994, Ulsan won their second Korean League Cup in 1995 and achieved their first league title in 1996, defeating Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3-2 on aggregate in the championship playoffs.
The "Two Kims era" began in 2000 when Kim Jung-nam was appointed manager. Under his guidance, Ulsan emerged as a dominant force, winning the league championship in 2005 and earning the nickname "Gangsters of Asia" for their overwhelming attacking displays. They won the A3 Champions Cup in 2006 and continued their success with the 2007 Korean League Cup. Kim Ho-kon succeeded Kim Jung-nam in 2009, implementing a defensive tactical style known as "Iron mace football" and leading the club to their first AFC Champions League title in 2012.
Crisis and recovery
Following their 2012 AFC Champions League triumph, Ulsan experienced a difficult period from 2014 to 2016, going trophyless for three years under managers Cho Min-kook and Yoon Jong-hwan. The club's fortunes changed dramatically when Kim Do-hoon was appointed manager in November 2016. He restored the club's status by guiding them to victory in the 2017 Korean FA Cup and later led them to their second AFC Champions League title in 2020, defeating Iranian club Persepolis 2-1 in the final.
Current period
In 2021, former South Korea international Hong Myung-bo was appointed manager and led the club to consecutive league titles in 2022 and 2023. The 2022 title was particularly dramatic, as Ulsan defeated rivals Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with two injury-time goals from Hungarian international Martin Ádám. In December 2023, the club changed its name to Ulsan HD and unveiled a new emblem. Following Hong Myung-bo's departure to manage the South Korea national team, Kim Pan-gon was hired and successfully guided the team to a third consecutive championship in 2024.
However, the 2025 season has proven challenging, with the club struggling in both domestic and continental competitions, leading to Kim Pan-gon's dismissal and the appointment of Shin Tae-yong as the new manager.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
Ulsan HD have won the K League 1 title five times (1996, 2005, 2022, 2023, 2024) and finished as runners-up on ten occasions. In cup competitions, they have claimed the Korean FA Cup once in 2017 and the Korean League Cup five times (1986, 1995, 1998, 2007, 2011). The club also won the Korean Super Cup in 2006.
Continental and global competitions
At the international level, Ulsan HD have achieved remarkable success, winning the AFC Champions League twice in 2012 and 2020, making them the only club to win the tournament twice without defeat. They also claimed the A3 Champions Cup in 2006. The club qualified for the 2020 FIFA Club World Cup, where they finished sixth, and earned a spot in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, though they failed to advance past the group stage.
Symbols and Colors
Current logo and logo history
In December 2023, Ulsan changed its name from Ulsan Hyundai FC to Ulsan HD and unveiled a new emblem ahead of the 2024 season. The "HD" designation comes from the club's parent company 'HD Hyundai', which was renamed from Hyundai Heavy Industries Holdings in December 2022.
Traditional home and away kits colors
The club originally adopted the tiger as its mascot when founded as Hyundai Horang-i, with "horangi" meaning tiger in Korean.
Traditional Rivals
Pohang Steelers
Ulsan contests the fierce Donghaean Derby with Pohang Steelers, based in nearby Pohang. This rivalry represents a clash between two of South Korea's wealthiest industrial cities, with Ulsan being a global center for shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, and oil refining, while Pohang is home to steel giant POSCO. One memorable encounter occurred in the final round of the 2013 K League Classic season, where Ulsan needed only a draw to win the title but conceded a late goal, allowing Pohang to claim the championship instead.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Since the late 2010s, Ulsan's primary rivalry has been with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in matches known as the Hyundai Derby. This rivalry intensified after Ulsan's triumph over Jeonbuk in the 2022 season, ending Jeonbuk's dominance of South Korean football in the 2010s. Despite both clubs sharing the Hyundai brand, their parent companies (HD Hyundai for Ulsan and Hyundai Motor for Jeonbuk) are legally separate entities.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Nicknames
During their successful period under manager Kim Jung-nam, Ulsan earned the nickname "Gangsters of Asia" due to their overwhelming attacking displays, particularly after defeating Al-Shabab 6-0 in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. Under Kim Ho-kon, their defensive tactical style with many players pushing forward in counterattacks earned them the nickname "Iron mace football."
Ownership and finances
The club is owned by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. Their continued success and growing popularity have led to increasing revenue, with the club earning a record 48 billion South Korean won in 2024. Their participation in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup earned them US$9.55 million, a record prize sum for the club.
Traditions and culture
The club's main supporters group is called the Cheoyong Warriors, founded in 1997. Cheoyong refers to a legendary figure in Korean folklore associated with the city of Ulsan. The supporters are passionate about maintaining the club's identity, as demonstrated in January 2025 when they protested the city government's plan to change some stadium seating to red, citing that red is the color of their arch-rivals Pohang.
Stadium
Ulsan HD plays at the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium in Nam District, completed in 2001 in preparation for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. It is one of the largest football-specific stadiums in South Korea. The club previously played at the Ulsan Stadium of the Ulsan Sports Complex. The team's players train at the Hyundai Sport Club House, completed in 2002, located in the city's Dong District.