Korean Amusement Parks: What to Expect

We made our way to a few Korean amusement parks this last month to check out all the hype. To preface this, we aren’t exactly amusement park experts, but we try to make the most of the time we have and take full advantage of the experience. Part of living abroad is experiencing the cultural pillars of fun, and this was the perfect chance to see for ourselves what all the hype was about.

UPDATE: We were able to squeeze in a visit to Lotte World (Seoul’s largest indoor amusement park in the center of the city) and I wrote all about our fun filled day here! It is definitely worth the visit!

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Everland

First stop was Everland Resort: Korea’s biggest and most beloved amusement park — a vibrant mix of thrilling rides, seasonal festivals, unique street food, and family-friendly attractions. I do think if you understand both the language and the cultural references/nostalgia of these characters, you have a much better experience. First things first, download the app, it provides you with the much used map to all your destinations.

While we didn’t get the jokes or the references to the movies and characters that I am sure are beloved by many Koreans, we were able to enjoy ourselves none-the-less. While it wasn’t the same love that we have for Disneyland, it was sweet in its own way. They have beautiful gardens and picturesque scenery that we enjoyed walking through.

Much like the rest of Korea, it is all very clean with well set up spaces. All was well until we hit the spinning teacups and a backwards rollercoaster… it was two rides too many and we drove home feeling rather motion sick.

Highlights

• Safari World: Get up close to lions, tigers, and bears on a guided safari bus — one of the park’s most iconic attractions.
• Lost Valley: A unique eco-safari where you can spot giraffes and zebras in an open-air, amphibious vehicle.
• Global Fair: The park’s entry zone, filled with colorful architecture, parades, photo ops, and souvenir shops.
• Seasonal Festivals: From cherry blossoms in spring to the Halloween Festival and Winter Snow Spectacular, Everland transforms with every season.

Best Rides to Try

• T-Express: One of the world’s steepest wooden roller coasters — a must for thrill seekers.
• Rolling X-Train: A classic looping coaster for high-speed fun.
• Amazon Express: A rafting adventure through rapids — perfect on a hot day.
• Magic Swing & Flying Elephant: Family-friendly favorites for younger visitors.

Food To Try

• Honey Butter Fries: A sweet-and-salty Korean twist on a classic snack.
• Smart Dog: Everland’s signature mozzarella-filled corndog.
• Korean BBQ-style meals and dessert cafés can be found throughout each themed zone.

Visitor Info

• Address:
  199 Everland-ro, Pogog-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Operating Hours:
  Typically 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, with extended hours during weekends, holidays, and seasonal events.
• Public Transportation:
  • By Subway: Take the Bundang Line to Giheung Station, transfer to the EverLine and ride to Jeondae–Everland Station (the last stop). A free shuttle runs from the station directly to the park entrance.
  • By Bus: Express buses run from Seoul (Gangnam, Jamsil, and Sadang areas) directly to Everland.
  • By Car: Approximately 45–60 minutes from central Seoul via the Gyeongbu Expressway.

Insider Tip: Don’t miss the Night Parade & Fireworks Show

If you would like to visit Everland with transportation from Seoul, Book tickets here!

Alpaca World

Our 2nd trip of the season was to visit Alpaca World, about a 2 hour drive outside of Seoul nestled int her forested hills of Gangwon Province. While this isn’t technically a Korean amusement park, it is a very popular tourist destination. The marketing on this was really much better than the actual space and while the kids enjoyed some of the exhibits, I don’t think I would visit again. There was plenty of alpaca’s and some other animals as well, but I didn’t love the condition of the enclosures in most cases.

It was beautiful to be outside the city for a day, get some fresh air and see of Korea beyond Seoul. I appreciated the scenery, but since we have visited some pretty amazing farm experiences in the past, this was a bit of let down. I have high expectations for my animal encounters and farm like experiences… I want to see animals being loved, respected and top notch care. This just didn’t hit those marks for me.

Activities

• Walk With an Alpaca – A signature experience where you leash a friendly alpaca and enjoy 15 minutes of nature walking together.
• Animal Zones & Feeding – Beyond alpacas, there are deer paddocks, bird gardens, rabbits & goats; you can feed many of them with “Paca Coins” for about ₩1,000 each. 

Visitor Info

• Address: 310 Pungcheon-ri, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do, South Korea
• Operating Hours: Typically 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (last ticketing around 16:30)

To visit Alpaca World with transportation from Seoul, Book Tickets Here!

So while we have a few more to try, we have learned that much of the amusement park experience is related to your child hood nostalgia of certain characters and spaces. Exhibit A for all my Oregonians, is Enchanted Forest.

Final Thoughts

Most of us have memories that we want to share with our kids and that makes these places special. Perhaps as we get more clued in to Korean pop culture, we will be more inclined to love some of these places more. Korean amusement parks are a very important part of Korean culture and act as a fun outlet where everyone can be a kid again.

If you are looking for more great activities while in Korea, read about our experiences at a Korean Baseball Game. The fan experience can’t be beat and it won’t break your bank either.