Ulsan

The Ulsan-class frigates were among the Republic of Korea Navy's earliest domestically designed and built larger surface combatants. They formed the higher end of Korea's older coastal defence fleet, pairing with smaller corvettes and patrol craft. The class helped Korean shipyards and the navy gain experience building and operating frigate-size warships.

Ulsan-class ships were designed to operate as multi-purpose escorts in Korean waters. Their armament gave them more reach than smaller patrol craft, while their size allowed longer patrols and better sea-keeping. They were not modern blue-water destroyers, but they gave Korea a useful frigate layer for national waters.

For HiWars, Ulsan is best viewed as a stepping stone. The class predates Korea's modern Incheon, Daegu, and KDX ships, but it helped create the shipbuilding and operational base that made those later classes possible.