Korea’s Next Themepark Is?
Korea already has the disappointing domestically based themeparks Lotte World and Everland, but thankfully, new word comes that three major global companies are looking to establish amusement parks near Seoul.
Universal Studios Korea has recently received financing to build their themepark in the Hwaseong Green City, set for a 2013 opening. The park is set to include 9 different theme areas, including one focused on the both the Korean and International movie industry, thrill rides, a water park, shopping malls including a premium outlet mall, hotels, condos, a city walk, golf links and a convention center. The park is set to be 3 times the size of the well know Universal Studios in LA, Orlando, and 6 times the size of Universal Studios-Osaka
Rival Paramount will open their first theme park in the world in Korea in 2011. They began construction on December 3 to open their movie themed park in Songdo International City. Paramount’s park will be much smaller than Universal, but is looking to capitalize on the Hallyu wave by focusing the park on movies from Korea and abroad. Additionally, there will be several ‘thrill’ rides based on Titanic, Indiana Jones, and Mission Impossible, a waterpark, and a themed 4-star resort hotel.
Lastly, talks are underway that MGM Studios will open their own themepark near Incheon Airport by 2012. Construction has not yet begun and so speculation remains that in this soon to be crowded amusement park market, MGM might lose out in the end.
From personal experience, Lotte World has never been ‘busy’ in terms of the volumes of people we see in amusement parks back in the USA. That, combined with the economic crisis hitting the world, we are left to wonder if even one more park, let alone 2 or 3, will attract a revenue producing crowd.
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Tags: Asia, Asian Theme Park, Disney, MGM Studios, seoul, South Korea, Theme Parks, Travel in Asia, Travel in Korea, Universal Studios
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