“In the past Ulsan has been a team that is considered to be a strong within the K-League,” Shin told the club’s official media. “If we overcome the hard times, I'm sure that good days will come. I will use all my abilities to rebuild my reputation.”

The appointment marks Shin’s return to the K League 1 almost 13 years after departing Seongnam Ilhwa and working with the Korea Republic national team from 2014, initially as an assistant to Uli Stielike.

He was promoted to head coach in 2017 and led his country at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, securing a famous win over defending champions Germany during the group phase.

Shin took over as Indonesia national team boss in 2020, leading the Southeast Asian country to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in Qatar in January 2024 before also taking his team into the third phase of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

He parted company with the Indonesians in January and was replaced by Patrick Kluivert.

Shin was a key member of the Ilhwa Chunma side that won the Asian Club Championship title in 1995 before coaching Seongnam Ilhwa to the AFC Champions League title in 2010 with victory over Zobahan in Tokyo.

The former midfielder takes charge of an Ulsan side that has struggled so far this season and currently sits in seventh in the standings after a 3-2 loss to Suwon FC on Sunday. His first game in charge will be against Jeju United on Saturday.

Shin will also lead Ulsan into the AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 with the club looking to improve on a disappointing showing in the previous campaign, when they failed to progress beyond the league phase.

The draw for the latest edition of the continental championship will be held in Kuala Lumpur on August 15.