Thanks to Peter DeMarco, I realized that I have missed a few buildings on my previous list and that I should update my rooftopping list for Ulsan. Now before I get into that let me first talk a little bit about how to do this, so that I don’t a get message saying that you are locked on a roof or you are locked in the back of a police car.
Precautions
First, remember that you are going to areas that the building security might not want you to be. So with that in mind, enter at your own risk. Second, be aware of locked doors and doors that only have an inside handle. The best thing to do is prop the door open when you enter the roof top area. That way you will always have an exit.
Warnings
Korea’s trespassing laws are generally not as strict as they are in the West but that does not mean you should ignore them. If building security says “No” that means “No” Go home and find another place to shoot. Also please remember that you are on a roof top of a high rise building then you should act accordingly. Do not put yourself in danger and DO NOT act like a Jackass.
Getting In
The object of the game here is stealth and respect. Get in, get your shots and get out. Don’t show up and try and “sneak in” with 10 of your best photographer friends and their significant others. It just draws too much attention. Two or three people max. be quiet and confident.
Typically, most places have a security code. If you don’t have a friend that lives in the building, it is best to wait until some body leaves. Again, don’t make a big scene, just walk in. Then take the elevator up to the top floor. Finally, look for the stairs and make your way up. Strangely most places in Ulsan have the helipad doors open, so it is always a good idea to check them first.
On the Top
Once you have found your spot, get set up but keep a low profile. Again, be stealthy because if you get caught and they lock the doors, you will ruin it for everybody. Just get set up, enjoy the view and get out without being seen.
So with all of that in mind, here is another set of buildings to shoot from in Ulsan.
Starclass
Location: Shinjeong Dong. Across from KBS Hall
One of my favorite buildings to shoot from. The tower closest to the river has the best views and the doors are located behind Seattle Espresso, which is a nice place to relax after your amazing shots.
The roof is nice and there are a number of great spots to shoot from. If you are looking to get an unobstructed view of the Taehwa River area, then stick to the rooftop garden, rather than venturing up to the helipad. the helipad offers a great view looking out towards Shinjeong Dong.
Cross-roads by the Amuty
Dongmoon Amuty
Location: Daldong. Across from Ulsan Culture and Arts Center.
Just down the road the aumty building has a nice rooftop area to shoot from giving a glimpse of the petrochemical area as well as Samsandong. The contrasting views here are great and looking back into shinjeong dong with give some unique perspectives.
The tricky part here is that there is a guard station right by the main entrance. So again, one or two people might not be so noticeable However a group of people showing up certainly will draw some attention.
Sky Rex
Location: Samsandong. Kitty corner to Lotte Department store.
These twin towers in Samsan Dong offer some of the greatest views in the city. This is an easier set of buildings to get into as there are many foreigners that live in them. Thus if you ask nicely I am sure that someone will let you in. The rooftop is a bit tricky to get shots from due to the high walls but the helipad is open and offers decent views of the city.
Onsan seen from the Sky Rex
If you are looking at getting shots of Lotte Department store, there is a ladder there that you can use to get over the wall and get some shots. However do so at your own risk.
Looking at the Taehwa River Park from the Exllu
Exllu
Location: Taehwa Rotary
This is one of the more tricky places to get in to. Simply because the building is not completely full or at least that was my assumption. I waited for a while and finally a group of people went in and held the door for me. The nice thing about this places was that there was an actual espresso machine in the lobby.
The best shots are from the helipad as the roof top is a little hard to get around. Also check out the interesting roof top bamboo gardens up there. It is an interesting design.
The Saechang Building
Location: Jangsaengpo, in front of Jangsaengpo Elementary School
This is probably one of the best places to catch a birds eye view of the industrial complex. It is a rather well known spot with local photographers as it is one of the few vantage points and the roof is not only easy to get up on but it is quite large as well.
Also note that one of my recent shots from the Weltz Tower in Mugeo dong made on to Flickr Explore! this is something that rarely happens for me, so I was quite happy when I saw that.
