Why It’s Easy to Get Lost at Babo Intersection in Front of Ulsan University and How to Actually Get There

Why Do You Become a ‘Fool’ in Front of Ulsan University?

Babosageori is a nickname for Daehangno in front of Ulsan University. As of 2014, Ulsan University students sometimes shortened the name to ‘Basa,’ and it was introduced as a name used by both Ulsan University students and Ulsan residents in general.

The exact origin of the name has not been confirmed. A popular explanation is that after crossing the road in front of Ulsan University’s main gate and walking a little uphill, visitors arrive at an open intersection and look around, wondering which of the several directions to take—thus becoming a ‘fool.’

Daehangno: From Farmland in 1970 to a University Shopping District

When Ulsan Institute of Technology was established in 1970, the area around Babosageori mainly consisted of rice paddies, fields, and homes. Within one or two years of the university’s establishment, boarding houses, small restaurants, and traditional taverns appeared to meet student demand, forming a local living district around the university.

A graduate school was established in 1980, and the number of students increased when Ulsan University was elevated to comprehensive university status in 1985. Until the mid-to-late 1980s, there were no buildings of four stories or higher in the area. Taller buildings appeared around 1988, and land readjustment began in the early 1990s, gradually giving the commercial district its current form.

Before the 1997 IMF financial crisis, the area was recorded as having a vibrant nightlife centered on young university students. In the past, restaurants, barbecue restaurants, billiard halls, and bars predominated; a 2010 article introduced it as a street where takeout coffee shops had increased significantly.

2009 Urban Design Project and the 445 m Pedestrian-Priority Road

Nam-gu District Office implemented an urban design pilot street project in July 2009 and proposed turning Babosageori into a pedestrian-centered street people would want to walk along. In 2010, Babosageori was designated as a design street together with the back streets behind the department stores in Samsan-dong.

On May 23, 2024, Ulsan Metropolitan City designated the ‘Babosageori area’ in Mugeo-dong, Nam-gu, as a pedestrian-priority road. The designated area includes Daehangno 94beon-gil, Daehangno 84beon-gil, and Daehangno 76beon-gil, with a total designated length of 445 m.

The site conditions cited by Ulsan City as reasons for the designation include the concentration of shops in front of Ulsan University, heavy pedestrian traffic, and the coexistence of vehicle traffic with stopping and parking. Therefore, the name pedestrian-priority road should not be interpreted as meaning that the area is a completely vehicle-free plaza.

Walking from Ulsan University’s Main Gate to the Second Floor at the Address

The address is 2F, 7-18 Daehangno 76beon-gil, Nam-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City; the lot-based address is 628-2 Mugeo-dong, Nam-gu, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and the postal code is 44611. From Ulsan University’s main gate, first cross the crosswalk on the road ahead, then walk a short distance uphill to reach the open intersection at Babosageori.

According to registered information, the building at the address has three above-ground floors and was completed on March 8, 2019. Building information lists a Class 1 neighborhood living facility and parking for one vehicle, so it is difficult to regard the location as having a spacious dedicated parking lot for street visitors.

Bulk Coffee Ulsan University Branch and HARUFILM Haru Film are each recorded as registered businesses on the first floor. Since the destination is on the second floor, check the floor number in front of the building, and avoid confusing Babosageori as a whole with the interior of a particular building.

Taking Express Limousine Bus 5004 from KTX Ulsan Station

The most direct public transportation option from KTX Ulsan Station (Tongdosa) is Express Limousine Bus 5004. Get off at the Ulsan University stop; the route is described as taking approximately 30 minutes to Ulsan University.

By taxi, the distance from KTX Ulsan Station to Ulsan University is 16.8 km, the journey takes approximately 30 minutes, and the fare is approximately 15,000 won. By bus, get off at the ‘Ulsan University’ stop, then proceed via the main gate, crosswalk, and uphill road to Daehangno 76beon-gil.

If you get off at Sinbok Transfer Center, the walk to Ulsan University is 1.3 km and takes approximately 20 minutes. For travelers with a lot of luggage or difficulty walking uphill, getting off at the Ulsan University stop or taking a taxi is simpler than walking from Sinbok Transfer Center.

Choosing Buses from Ulsan Airport, the Express Bus Terminal, and Taehwagang Station

From Ulsan Airport, regular buses 214, 402, 422, 442, 712, and 714, as well as seat buses 1127 and 1147, are listed as routes to the Ulsan University stop. A taxi from the airport to Ulsan University is described as 13.2 km, approximately 31 minutes, and about 12,600 won.

At the Ulsan Express Bus Terminal stop, you can take regular buses 401, 417, 492, 124, 482, 432, and 712, as well as seat buses 2100 and 2300. A taxi from the terminal to Ulsan University is described as 9.5 km, approximately 27 minutes, and about 10,200 won.

At Taehwagang Station, regular buses 401, 492, 124, 482, 712, and 417, as well as seat buses 1723 and 1713, are listed. A taxi from Taehwagang Station to Ulsan University is described as 11.0 km, approximately 28 minutes, and about 11,300 won. For bus routes, confirm at the departure stop that the bus is heading toward ‘Ulsan University.’

What to Know in Advance About Hours, Admission, and Parking

Babosageori is a street-style destination rather than a facility with a ticket booth, such as an exhibition hall or historic site, and is described as a freely accessible street with no admission fee. Separate official operating hours and closing days could not be confirmed in the published official materials, so do not plan on the assumption that it operates like a tourist attraction from 09:00 to 18:00.

The representative phone number is not an information line for Babosageori itself but the inquiry number for the Transportation Planning Division of Ulsan Metropolitan City: 052-229-4265. The official website listed is the Babosageori information page in Ulsan City’s Urban Landscape Records. Operating hours, closing days, and recommended viewing time are not separately provided.

Parking information for the building lists space for one vehicle, while the former Seomdol Public Parking Lot near Ulsan University was reported to have 40 spaces. Current parking fees and availability could not be confirmed. Visitors arriving by car should consider that vehicle traffic, stopping, and parking intermingle in the alleys, and should prioritize public transportation for safety.

See Seomdeul Park Together with the Local Name ‘Basa’

Seomdeul Park is located within Babosageori, built above a public parking lot. The park is not far from the entrance to Babosageori and has a spacious area, making it suitable for large-scale cultural events.

In a 2014 survey of 123 Ulsan University students, 93 respondents, or 75.6%, said they did not know the park’s name, while 77 respondents, or 62.6%, said a nickname that was easier to use, like Babosageori, was needed. On the other hand, regarding the name Babosageori, 99 of the 123 respondents, or 80%, said they were satisfied and that it did not need to be changed.

Records also show that Seomdeul Park was once used under the name ‘Kkwarra Park’ during past events. However, published materials do not confirm whether Babosageori itself has English information, an audio guide, wheelchair or stroller accessibility, photography restrictions, or cash-only policies. A visit record from January 2025 introduced winter nighttime landscape lighting and decorations, while the street was reported to have appeared quiet after rain on the morning of February 12, 2020.