Having won the title three seasons in a row, Ulsan were seventh when Shin took charge but he was unable to steady the ship, with the club currently 10th in the standings and in danger of heading for the relegation playoffs.

While they are 11 points clear of last-placed Daegu FC for automatic relegation to the K League 2, Ulsan are still at risk of having to play a promotion-relegation playoff to avoid dropping to the second division next year.

Their continental form, however, is on a more stable footing with Ulsan on four points after two rounds of AFC Champions League Elite™ 2025/26 matches.

Youth director Roh Sang-rae will take charge of the squad on the interim, with Ulsan to face Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the AFC Champions League Elite on October 21.