The results were shocking: within a decade, small fishing wharves like Busan and Ulsan grew into densely populated cities with over two million people each.

Meanwhile, industries like car manufacturing and shipbuilding, never heard of before in South Korea, progressed ahead with ferocious speed.

Ulsan, Geoje, and Busan, all major international ports, especially the latter, which is the world's third-largest trading harbor in terms of total cargo volume, specialize in car manufacturing and shipbuilding.

Especially in Ulsan, where heavy industries make up most of the city's revenue, Hyundai Auto and other automobile companies are slowly taking leading positions in the global society.

Pohang itself is the seat of POSCO, the Korean steel giant, while Changwon is the capital of South Gyeongsang Province.