On 10 January 2012, he returned to K League 1, signing for Ulsan Hyundai on a three-year deal. In his first season with the club, he won the 2012 AFC Champions League that was named as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament and also named as the Asian Footballer of the Year at the end of the year. He was transferred on 1 January 2013 to Sangju Sangmu on loan to complete his military service as per South Korean law.