Ulsan HD: History, Squad, Rivalries, Honours & Future Plans

Ulsan HD FC, formerly known as Ulsan Hyundai, is one of the most accomplished and historic football clubs in South Korea, competing in the country's top division football league, K League 1. Based in the industrial region of Ulsan, the club was built in 1983 by the name Hyundai Horang-i and is currently owned by the Hyundai Heavy Industries Group, outscoring the deep-lying connection between football and industry in the region.
Ulsan HD's popular nickname is Tigers, symbolising the club's spirit and resilience of modern South Korean football.
It has been a powerhouse of domestic football, representing the pride of the country's excellence in the game at the global and continental stages frequently.

Ulsan HD have recently solidified its dominance by winning two consecutive K League 1 titles in 2022 and 2023. The Tigers have also become formidable internationally, having won the AFC Championship League twice in their history - in 2012 and 2020. They have established themselves as a continental elite through blending experienced international players with home-grown emerging talents supported by a modern and professional infrastructure and a passionate supporters' base, which comes in numbers to flock to the Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium, which is also renowned as the “Big Crown”. The Korean club has been a rising force in Asian football and is well on course to fight against the big European elites in club football.

Ulsan HD: Key Facts

The South Korean giants, Ulsan HD FC, were founded in 1983 by the prominent defence and shipbuilding company, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, but it was recognised by the name of Hyundai Horang-i back then, as the original foundation of it happened in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.

Later in the season of 1990 season, the club decided to move its base to Ulsan, where they changed their name to Ulsan HD FC. Most of the South Korean clubs are owned by family-run franchises, which infuse their money into the development projects of the clubs to help them remain competitive across all competitions. As the chairperson of Hyundai Industries, the current owner of Ulsan HD are Kwon Oh-gap.

Ulsan HD Sponsors, Net Worth & Value

Backed by the financial might of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan is one of the most financially robust clubs in the K League 1. As of April 2025, the club sits at an estimated net worth of around $18.9 million, due to a self-sustained business model. The exact market valuations of the clubs in the K League are not often publicly published, making it difficult to learn the current figures regarding the market value of Ulsan HD FC. Let's dive deep into the Ulsan HD net worth.

The club primarily benefits from the corporate backing of its parent company, HD Hyundai Industries. The current kit supplier of the club is Adidas. The main shirt sponsor of it has been Hyundai Oilbank, while other commercial partnerships with Hyundai Infracore and Construction Equipment also play a crucial role in aligning its corporate identity with branding and advertising.

Ulsan HD Rivalries

Ulsan HD are one of the most famous clubs in South Korean football, a status that has drawn a lot of eye-catching rivalries over the years to challenge its dominance in the Korean top flight. In order to establish its supremacy in regional football, the Tigers have been engaged in intensified battles on the pitch over the decades against a few clubs that have challenged their rise to the top of the football chart in the country. Now, let's discuss the best football rivalries of Ulsan HD FC.

Derbies

The storied rivalry of the Eastern region of South Korea. Ulsan HD have been clashing with its geographical neighbour, Pohang Steelers, in the famous “East Coast Derby,” which is also popularly known as the Donghaean Derby. This fixture is not only a clash between two K League football clubs, but also a face-off between two industrial giants - Ulsan's Hyundai Heavy Industries and Pohang's POSCO, a steel conglomerate. The East Coast Derby's history dates back to 1984, with both clubs demonstrating fierce tackles, dramatic finishes, and high intensity.

This rivalry is all about showing dominance in the K League as both the clubs look to trounce each other to earn favours from their owners - Hyundai Industries. As both Ulsan and Jeonbuk are backed by the same company, the match-up between them also produces friendly affairs. However, due to the competitiveness in the K League 1, they always stay on a collision course, denying each other a chance to win the league title every year. This home derby decided the fate of the South Korean league title in 2019 and 2021, with Ulsan missing out on the trophy on both occasions.

Despite not emerging as a fierce rivalry like the East Coast Derby, the battle between Ulsan and FC Seoul has its flavour. This rivalry puts an industrial powerhouse against the pride symbol of the capital of the country in a football field, representing a dynamic of South vs Centre in the country. Both clubs, having rich histories and legacies, have often delivered high-profile results in these encounters.

Ulsan HD Awards & Achievements

Ulsan HD FC have won multiple domestic and international titles in its rich history, representing the pride of South Korean football on the global stage. From the AFC Championship League to the K League 1, the football club has won many major trophies to continue its dominance as a major football superpower.

History of Ulsan HD

What's the Ulsan HD history? Ulsan HD FC, originally founded by Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1983 by the name of Hyundai Horang-i (Hyundai Tigers) in Incheon, began building a long-lasting legacy after relocating to the city of Ulsan in 1984. With the support of a robust organizational structure, Ulsan quickly gained fame in the K League 1, having finished as the runners-up in the competition. After 12 years of waiting, the Tigers got their first breakthrough, dramatically lifting their first league title.

In the 2000s, Ulsan emerged as a brute force in its country and won several domestic titles, including a few K League trophies, before marking its presence on the international stage by lifting the AFC Champions League in 2012 and earning a seat in the Club World Cup. Under the stewardship of their head coach, Hong Myung-Bo, they won their second AFC Champions League in 2020 before winning the K League 1 in 2022, the first league title in 17 years.

Future Goals

After winning three back-to-back K League 1 Titles, Ulsan HD FC's current goal is to solidify its status as a premier club of South Korea, achieving continued success in global and domestic tournaments.

The club now aims to expand its global footprint through improved scouting and international partnerships. It also looks to develop the infrastructure of its stadium and enhance the fans' experience during match days.

Briefly put, Ulsan HD FC now aspires to become a dominant club not only in South Korea but also on the entire Asian continent by regularly participating in tournaments like the FIFA Club World Cup.