July 30th – August 3rd

Mokpo puts its nickname “city of lights” and its position on the coast to good use with this colorful festival lit up by fireworks going off above the coast. The five days of the festival are filled with tons of events including the Ocean Fountain Concert, Korea B-Boy Festival, and the National Windsurfing Festival. You’ll have plenty of chances to get the better of your seasickness with a cruise ship tour of the picturesque islands in the area, a rowing contest, deep sea fishing, and a yacht ride. Even if you want to stay on dry land, you can still appreciate the beauty of the deep with the Ocean Culture Photo Exhibit. Events held at the Hadang Peace Square.
mokpofestival.com 061-270-8441

July 24th – 25th

The “magic of light and fire” at this fireworks show is sponsored by POSCO (the Pohang Iron and Steel Company), one of the world’s largest steel manufacturers. The show is to be held in Pohang, the city that POSCO transformed from a backwater fishing village to a bustling center of industry. The main events start on Saturday with the Firelight Parade from 6 – 8 pm and concerts from 8 – 9 pm. The main show lights up at 9 – 10 pm, with teams from Poland, Canada, Japan, and Korea vying in a friendly competition. Held at the Gymnasium at the Hyeongsan River in Pohang. poscofs.com 054-220-1014

Words and shots by Charles Montgomery

July 17th – 25th
Many festivals in Korea claim to be “international,” but very few stake their reputations on being dirty. The Boryeong Mud Festival is both. The Mud Festival is an annual party (in its 12th year) spanning one week each summer on Daecheon Beach. Voted number three on a London list of the world’s weirdest festivals, it turns the sleepy town of Boryeong from a town of 100,000 residents into a metropolis that serves over 1.5 million visitors. More importantly, it’s a complete blast and should not be missed by anyone in Korea in July.

Boryeong is a beautiful city, with sandy beaches on one side and towering mountains behind the city, but it’s the beaches and the mud that is trucked to it that defines the festival. It initially promoted the benefits of Boryeong mud in cosmetics and skin care products but quickly grew beyond that. While local mud is still one of Boryeong’s prize exports, the current focus of the festival is on mud as a social lubricant. Scores of happy revelers cover themselves in mud: red, yellow, blue, green, and any other color that mud really shouldn’t be.  Wander the beaches and get dirty, then walk in from the beach and eat in any of the excellent restaurants that lie behind it.

Returning revelers need to know that the festival has been moved up the beach to a new location (see picture), but experience suggests that there will be a main stage for music and other entertainment. Stroll through a carnival of inflatable characters and contraptions that house mud, spit mud, and massage mud into your skin. The competitive can prove their worth in the mud-wrestling pits, in “Extreme Mudflat Skiing,” the Boryeong mudflat obstacle marathon, or the mud football championship. Thrill-seekers can slide down the mud-slides, photographers can enter the mud photo competition, and when you get tired, you can receive a mud foot-massage! In the evening, the festival sets off awesome fireworks displays and saunas are available for clean up if you don’t mind public nudity. The sea is always there if you prefer a more natural cleansing process.

Be prepared to get involved, and by involved, I mean dirty. Don’t wear your good clothes, and don’t bring anything you aren’t prepared to see coated in mud (except for cameras).  If you are planning on staying overnight in Boryeong, reserve your hotel rooms as far in advance as you can. As the festival gets closer, prices rise and vacancies vanish.

If you have time to explore the surrounding areas, Daecheon has the Seongjusagi Temple, the Ocheon Chungchoeng Suyesongseong Fortress, Nampo Gwanamun Gate, the tomb of General Jwa-Jin Kim, the Boryeong Fortress and Gate, and a coal mining museum on the outskirts of town.

But really? It’s all about getting down and dirty. From 10 to you, here’s mud in your eye!

mudfestival.or.kr

Yvonne’s Boryeong Adventure
The first time I went to the Boryeong Mud Festival was great! We took a bus to Daecheon and when it turned away from the beach to a coal mining museum, we were confused. But we got back into the bus and headed to the festival. It was worth the wait: thousands of happy people covering themselves in mud and playing on the beach. We slathered up in mud, ate and drank ourselves silly, stared at all the people painted in mud, like canvases, and generally had a great time. After a sauna/shower and a great dinner in town, we regretfully got on our bus and left the Mud Festival, all of us promising to return.

by Yvonne Dominguez (left in the photo)

Edited by Shirley Hwang

What do you do to beat the heat? You’ve tried taking cold showers, buying an extra electric fan, and escaping the afternoon sun in the theater. And you’re still drenched in sweat. Fortunately for you, there’s a solution to the dog days of summer. Thirteen water parks and plenty of public pools across the country bring you all the water slides and high dives you could ask for. This is your chance to turn the AC off and the fun on this July.

Resom Spa Castle
Yesan-gun, north Chungcheong Province

As the name suggests, this park is a spa resort. Indoors, there is a massive pool with different massage stations, where water shoots out toward different parts of the body. There’s also a shallow children’s pool and play area. Outdoors, there are several themed spas including a couples’ tub, gayageum (Korean stringed instrument) music tub, and a spa bar that serves nonalcoholic cocktails. The outdoor area has a nicer ambience in the evening.

There are three slides and a wave pool, although these attractions may not be as thrilling as the rides at other parks. The amenities and facilities are clean. One disappointment is the lack of dining choices: there is only one restaurant and it serves mostly Korean food.

HOURS: 9 am – 9 pm
DIRECTIONS: Express bus leaves three times daily from Nambu Bus Terminal
COST: W30,000 – W48,000, discounted rates after 5 pm
INFO: resom.co.kr/spa 041-330-8000
ADDRESS: 341 Sadong-ri Deoksan-myeon Yesan-gun Chungcheongbuk-do

*   *   *

Caribbean Bay
Yongin, Gyeonggi Province
If you’ve heard of only one water park in Korea, it’s probably Caribbean Bay. It’s a part of the Everland Resort and is the largest indoor/outdoor waterpark in the world. It became even bigger in 2008 with the addition of the “Wild River Zone,” with rides including the 90-degree Tower Boomerango and tube slides. Attractions unique to Caribbean Bay are the boogie board/surfing ride and the Adventure Pool, where 2.4 tons of water pour down from a skull at random times throughout the day.

Because Caribbean Bay is the largest and best-known waterpark in Korea, it inevitably draws the largest crowds. Waits for popular rides can easily climb to an hour or two, and it can be frustrating to slide down a short ride after an extremely long wait. The worst-case scenario is when a ride has to be closed mid-queue due to poor weather during the rainy season (장마철) in July. On the sunny side, facilities are kept up well despite the throngs of people. Visitors can enjoy a variety of restaurants throughout the park as well as bungalows, beach chairs, and resting “capsules” available for rental.

HOURS: Vary in July (outdoors rides generally open at 10 or 11 am). See website for details
DIRECTIONS: Bus 5002 from Gangnam St. (line 2, ex. 6) and other locations
COST: W35,000 – W45,000
INFO: everland.com/caribbean 031-320-5000
ADDRESS: 310 Jeondae-ri Pogok-eup Cheoin-gu Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do

*   *   *

Seorak Waterpia
Sokcho, Gangwon Province
Waterpia is more of a spa destination than an exciting water park. There are more than thirty different tubs to try, including hot spring tubs and others that use jets of water to give you a massage. Other than the spa areas, there are two slides, a flowing river, and two wave pools, though neither generate the large waves seen at other water parks. Because Waterpia is spa-oriented, it attracts families and doesn’t get as crowded as other parks.

Some of the tubs worth a visit are the “doctor fish” spa, where fish help you exfoliate by feeding on your dead skin; the herb spa, which is seasoned with an herb du jour; and the “well-being” spa, which has water infused with different aromas including ginseng. Waterpia is recommended for relaxing, but not for the rides. Also note that the food court doesn’t have a very large selection and what it does have can be pricey. 

HOURS: 10 am – 8:30 pm (spa opens at 6 am)
DIRECTIONS: A Hanhwa Resort bus runs from four locations in Seoul buspia.co.kr
COST: W23,000 – W38,000, discounted rates for afternoon/evening passes
INFO: seorakwaterpia.co.kr 1588-2299
ADDRESS: 24-1 Jangsa-dong Sokcho-si Gangwon-do

*   *   *

Ocean World
Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province
You’ve seen the ads. This Egypt-themed water park is divided into three main sections. The Indoor Zone includes a kids’ pool, a water playground with smaller slides, and a spa area, along with other pools. The Indoor Zone is generally kid-friendly and has rest areas, but it isn’t as exciting as the Extreme and Dynamic Zones outdoors. Catch some waves at the Surfing Mount, a pool that creates 2.4 meter-high waves. The must-ride attraction at Ocean World, though, is the 300-meter-long Monster Blaster, the world’s longest two-person tube slide. Another cool ride is the Super Boomerango, where you’ll be tossed into the air while sitting on a tube.

Ocean World’s spa services are better than those at other water parks, offering high-end facials and massages with prices to match. The jjimjilbang area has heated rooms for sauna and relaxation, as well as sleeping rooms, though it would be anticlimactic to visit a water park to catch up on your Z’s.

HOURS: Indoors: 8:30 am – 8 pm, Outdoors 9 am – 6 pm
DIRECTIONS: A free Daemyung Resort shuttle runs from Sports Complex Station (line 2, ex. 6) and other locations throughout Seoul
COST: W41,000 for children, W55,000 for adults, discounted rates after 3 pm
INFO: daemyungresort.com 1588-4888
ADDRESS: 1290-14 Palbong-ri Seo-myeon Hongcheon-gun Gangwon-do

*   *   *

Even More Waterparks
Blue Canyon Pyeongchang, Gangwon
The usual lazy river, wave pool, children’s pool, spa tubs, and slides. W35,000 – W45,000 for an all-day pass*.
bluecanyon.co.kr 1588-2828

Peak Island Pyeongchang, Gangwon
Located at the Yongpyong Resort, Peak Island is an indoor/outdoor park, but the outdoor section is scheduled to open in July. W30,000 – W40,000 for an all-day pass*.
peakisland.co.kr 1588-0009

Playdoci Bucheon, Gyeonggi Indoor slides, pools, and two “doctor fish” tubs, where bathers can soak their feet and let the fish do the exfoliating. W18,200 – W27,000 for an all-day pass*. playdoci.com 1577-5773

The Ocean Resort Yeosu, South Jeolla
Hot springs in addition to indoor/outdoor slides and pools.
W34,000 – W46,000. theoceanresort.co.kr 1588-0377

Oksum Waterpark Jangheung, South Jeolla
This is a small, family-friendly park next to the beach with lots to eat. Opening date and prices not yet determined.
oksum.co.kr 061-862-2100

Jungheung Resort Naju, South Jeolla
Hot springs in addition to indoor/outdoor slides and pools. W34,000 – W46,000. theoceanresort.co.kr 1588-0377

Biki World Busan
A huge outdoors pool with inflatable slides and tubes at BEXCO. From 7/15 – 8/16. W15,000.
bikiworld.com 051-740-3492

Sealala Seoul No exciting rides here. Go for a lazy swim or relax at the hot tubs and jjimjilbang.
W8,000 – W20,000. sealala.com 02-2628-9000

Water World Jeju Island Soak in the salt water sauna after a day playing on the slides and in the pool. W28,000 – W35,000. jejuwaterworld.co.kr 064-739-1930

*Discounts available for afternoon passes

Dive into Korea’s Swimming Pools
There aren’t a lot of public pools out there, but we’ve compiled a terrific nationwide list of some of the nicest public pools available. It’s a pretty comprehensive list, but if you’ve visited a nice pool in Korea, let others know where to go by commenting on this article at 10magazine.asia!

Rooftop Pool at the Hamilton Hotel Seoul
Yes, it’s okay to get a tan in Korea. Beat back the pale at the rooftop pool at the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon. It often gets so crowded that there’s no place to sit, so queue before opening hours to reserve a poolside lounge chair.
• Hamilton Hotel near Itaewon Stn. (line 6, ex.1)
• 10 am – 6 pm
• Weekdays W12,000 Weekends W16,000
• hamilton.co.kr 02-794-0171

Han River Park Seoul
There are six pools run by the city of Seoul along the Han River at Ttukseom, Mangwon, Gwangnaru, Jamsil, Jamwon, and Yeouido.
Tip: go later in the afternoon to avoid crowds and the heat.
• 9 am – 8 pm
• W3,000 – W5,000
• hangang.seoul.go.kr

Sheraton Walkerhill Seoul
• Sheraton Walkerhill Hotel near Gwangnaru Stn. (line 5, ex. 2),
• 6 am – 9:30 pm
• W35,000 – W55,000
• sheratonwalkerhill.co.kr
• 02-455-5000

Madeul Green Park Seoul
• Madeul Green Park near Junggye St. (line 7)
• 9 am – 6 pm
• W6,000 – W8,000
• 02-932-2883

Daegu Duryu Pool North Gyeongsang
Indoor/outdoor.
• Duryu Park in Daegu near Duryu Stn. (line 2 ex. 14)
• 6 am – 9 pm
• W1,700 – W3,000
• duryuswim.or.kr
• 053-623-2156

Gumi Gumoland North Gyeongsang
• Gumoland in Gumi. 253 Namtong-dong Gumi-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
• Weekdays 10 am – 5 pm, Weekends 10 am – 6 pm,
• W5,000
• gumoland.co.kr
• 054-451-8500

Busan Paradise Hotel
• Access to an outdoor pool and spas.
• Busan Paradise Hotel near Haeundae Stn. (line 2, ex. 1)
• 6 am – 10 pm
• W38,000
• 051-749-2358

Yongin Leisure Water World Gyeonggi
• 427 Muk-ri, Idong-myeon Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si
• 10 am – 4 pm
• W12,000- W15,000,
• yiwater.co.kr
• 031-332-2006

Paju Honey Land Gyeonggi
• Part of Honey Land, a theme park. 402-1 Janggok-ri Jori-eup Paju-si
• 10 am – 5 pm
• W7,000 – W9,000
• honey-land.co.kr
• 031-945-2250

Bears Town Resort Gyeonggi
Opens late July.
• 295 Sohak-ri, Naechon-myeon, Pocheon-si
• 9:30 am – 5 pm
• W8,000 – W10,000
• bearstown.com
• 031-540-5060

Paju Youealleisure Gyeonggi
• 83-10 Majang-ri, Gwangtan-myeon, Paju-si,
• Weekdays 10 am – 6 pm, Weekends 9 am – 6 pm,
• W10,000 –W12,000
• youealleisure.co.kr
• 031-948-6161

Chuncheon Yukrim Land Gangwon
• 316-1 Sanong-dong, Chuncheon-si
• 9 am – 6 pm
• W4,000 –W6,000
• 033-252-7222

Gwangju Kumho Family Land Jeolla
• 148 Saengyong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju-si
• 10 am – 6 pm
• W7,000 – W9,000
• fl.kumho.co.kr
• 062-607-8000

Aquana Jeju Island
Indoor/outdoor pools at the Kumho Resort.
• 2384-1 Namwon-ri, Namwon-eup, Seogwipo-si
• 9:30 am – 8:30 pm
• W18,000 – W25,000 (includes indoor spa and sauna)
• kumho.co.kr/aquana
• 064-766-8000

Edited by Shirley Hwang and David Carruth

Summer is finally here, and there’s never been a better time to go out for some fun with family and friends. But where, you ask? Look no further! Get in line at a theme park for some exhilarating rides, or get an up-close-and-personal view of animals at a zoo. Whether you want to spend the day at one of the larger, well-known parks or visit a smaller, less crowded one, there are many venues to choose from across Korea. Here’s a list of fun-filled places for your next day out on the town.

Everland, By David Wills
Located south of Seoul in Yongin, Everland is Korea’s biggest and best theme park, and consequently it’s packed with visitors all year. It’s still definitely worth the effort of dealing with the crowds. Everland’s rollercoasters are fantastic, especially T-Express. The world’s steepest wooden rollercoaster, T-Express was recently voted the best rollercoaster in the world in two separate surveys.
Other attractions in the park include zones where you can find food and attractions from various parts of the world. There’s a European zone with windmills and bratwurst and an American zone with rock ‘n’ roll music and an Old West theme, as well as Magic Land and a global fair. The zoo (dubbed “Zoo-topia”) is also a popular attraction. Oddly, it’s separate from the safari, where visitors are driven around an expanse of land populated with large and exotic animals. Perhaps the most famous resident here is the liger—half lion, half tiger. For fun in the water, Everland’s got the Caribbean Bay water park (more details next month!).

DIRECTIONS A bus from Seoul to Everland takes about an hour, though weekend traffic will slow you down. Try the direct bus from Nambu Bus Terminal.
HOURS 9:30 am (9 am weekends) – 10 pm
COST One-day passes/admission are W37,000/W30,000 for adults, W31,000/W25,000 for teens, and W28,000/W22,000 for children, with big discounts after 5 pm.
INFO everland.com 031-320-5000
ADDRESS 310 Jeondae-ri, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do

Lotte World, By Alice Shether
Lotte World is a whirlwind of music, laughter and child-friendly fun. Connected by the theme park’s monorail, the outdoor Magic Island boasts rides, games, shops, and eateries while the indoor Adventure park comes complete with carousel, ice-skating, fairy-tale adventures (the best is Adventures of Sinbad), roller coasters, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Think of Lotte as a miniature version of Disneyland crossed with your local fair. The music is loud, the crowds are plentiful, and the prices reflect that.
The indoor part of the park is confusing, with different rides accessible on one of the four floors, and the signage is not always clear. Instead of letting the layout stress you out, wander around and allow this otherworldly theme park to captivate you. With an “air balloon” ride ringing the outside of the huge central skylight, Lotte World feels like being inside a storybook.
Lotte World’s adult highlights include the French Revolution, a wicked 540-degree indoor roller coaster that is guaranteed to up your heart rate, as well as the outdoor Gyro Swing and Gyro Drop.  These two are the best adrenaline-inducing rides, with quick lines. For an extra fee, you can acquire a special pass to bypass the lineups on rides.  

DIRECTIONS With its entrance actually inside Jamsil Stn. (lines 2 & 8, ex. 4), this is the easiest park to reach.
HOURS Mon – Thu 9:30 am – 10 pm, Fri – Sun 9:30 am – 11 pm
COST Adults W24,000, teens W21,000, children W18,000. Prices drop after 4 and 7 pm
INFO lotteworld.com 02-411-2000
ADDRESS 40-1 Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul

Seoul Land and Seoul Grand Park, By Rebecca High and David Carruth
For those times when you want it both ways, there’s Seoul Grand Park in Gwacheon, which has an amusement park and a zoo (and an art gallery, botanical gardens, and more). Get started with Seoul Land, built during the 1988 Seoul Olympics and reminiscent of Disney’s Epcot. Seoul Land is a fun place to go with friends or family, though roller coaster enthusiasts may not be satisfied. The lines are inevitably long, but at least a few of the rides are worth the wait. The Black Hole 2000 (the only real coaster here) is a fun one-loop ride, and Sky X is an exhilarating cross between bungee jumping and skydiving. Don’t waste your time at the Haunted House, though. Although listed as the fifth main attraction on Seoul Land’s website, the cheesy walk-through diorama is only made worse by dusty plastic models and narration completely in Korean.
Just next to Seoul Land is the Seoul Grand Park Zoo. In the dreary winter months, the animals all look a bit depressed, but when the sun comes out the place comes alive. From giraffes to rhinos to lizards, they’ve got your beast of choice. Recommended: slip inside the 30-meter-high enclosure full of majestic migratory birds. Not so much: the insectarium, which is every bit as cheesy inside as the giant plastic bug waving at you from outside.

DIRECTIONS Both Seoul Land and Seoul Grand Park are within walking distance of Seoul Grand Park Stn. (line 4, ex. 2). Seoul Land
HOURS 9:30 am – 9 pm
COST Day-pass/admission is W29,000/W15,000 for adults, W25,000/W12,000 for teens, and W22,000/W10,000 for children.
INFO seoulland.co.kr 02-509-6000
ADDRESS 33 Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, Seoul Grand Park
HOURS 9 am – 7 pm
COST Adults W3,000, teens W2,000, children W1,000;         the dolphin show is W2,000
INFO grandpark.seoul.go.kr 02-500-7338
ADDRESS 159-1 Makgye-dong, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

Woobang Land Daegu, By David Wills
This small theme park is based around Woobang Tower in Duryu Park across from the stadiums. It’s normally pretty quiet, and queues for the rollercoasters are usually minimal, even in summer. The downside is that Woobang’s rollercoasters are fairly old and uncomfortable. If you’re anywhere near six feet tall you’ll probably leave with a sore neck and a headache. The aquarium underneath the tower is dull and uninteresting, with its animals confined to tiny, dark enclosures. Much more interesting is the SkyJump—a 123-meter drop from the Tower. Anyone daring enough to jump is rewarded with a photo and a certificate. 
HOURS Mon – Fri 9 am – 8 pm, Sat – Sun 9 am – 10 pm
DIRECTIONS Walking distance from Duryu Stn. (line 2, ex. 15)
COST Day-pass/admission is W24,000/W11,000 for adults, W22,000/W7,800 for teens, and W19,000/W6,500 for children.
INFO woobangland.co.kr 053-620-0001
ADDRESS 302-11 Duryu-dong, Dalseo-gu, Daegu

Children’s Grand Park Seoul, By Shirley Hwang
This sprawling recreation area includes an amusement park, zoo, and water playground. Visitors to the amusement park can ride roller coasters and the Viking, while the zoo houses over one hundred species across 12 exhibits, such as a marine animal house and deer-feeding area. An animal show takes place five times daily, and there are camels and miniature horses to be ridden. For an affordable and leisurely day out, Seoul Children’s Grand Park is a one-stop spot for outdoors family fun.  

HOURS 9:30 am – 10 pm
DIRECTIONS Children’s Grand Park station (line 7, exit 1)
COST Admission to park and zoo is free. Amusement park: W3,000 – W4,000
INFO sisul.or.kr 02-450-9311
ADDRESS 18 Neung-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

Aiins World Bucheon Gyeonggi Province, By David Carruth
Stroll by Stonehenge, get an eye of the Eiffel Tower, and visit Versailles—all in less than an hour. Hard to believe? At Aiins World in Bucheon, just west of Seoul, would-be globetrotters can see 1/25 scale miniatures of 109 famous landmarks. Walk around the world in 80 minutes with zones including Korea, Russia, Africa, Europe, and America. It’s worth two trips, once during the day to see the astonishing detail of the models and once at night to appreciate the exotic mood of the four-way lighting system in the park. Be sure to bring your camera for some unforgettable shots that will baffle your friends.

HOURS Weekdays 9:30 am – 7 pm, weekends 9:30 am – 9 pm
DIRECTIONS Take a taxi or bus 5-2 from Songnae Stn. (line 1, ex. 2).
COST Adults W8,500, teens W7,000, children W6,000
INFO aiinsworld.com 032-320-6000
ADDRESS 529-2 Sang-dong, Wonmi-gu, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do

O World Daejeon Daejeon, By Shirley Hwang
Daejeon has its share of the animal action. Zoo Land at O World is home to over 130 species of animals. Take a journey via bus on the African Safari to see tigers, elephants, and giraffes. Other animals can be found in the walking Mountain Safari or from the observation deck at the Jungle Safari. O World also has Toy Land, an amusement park with both thrilling roller coasters and kiddy rides. From bumper cars to free-falls to mini free-falls for younger children, Joy Land has attractions for all ages.      
HOURS Mon – Fri 9 am – 8 pm, Sat – Sun 9 am – 10 pm
DIRECTIONS Take bus 311 or 314 from Daejeon Stn.
COST W18,000 – W25,000 for the O World Pass (Zoo + Joy Land)
INFO oworld.kr 042-580-4820
ADDRESS 39-1 Sajeong-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon

Even More Theme Parks
Dongma Park Busan
Located in Busan Children’s Grand Park, Dongma Park is filled with kid-friendly rides such as bumper cars, teacups, and the Viking. W16,000 – W19,000 for an all-access pass.
dongmapark.co.kr 051-803-4441

Gyeongju World Gyeongju, Gyeongsang Province
Over 25 attractions including a 70-meter Megadrop and Korea’s first inverted roller coaster as well as family-friendly train rides. W22,000 – W27,000 for an all-access pass.
www.gjw.co.kr 054-745-7711

Kumdori Land Daejeon
Play with Kumdori and Kumsuni, the king and queen of Kumdori Kingdom. Kumdori-themed rides, food, and shows. W15,000 – W22,000 for an all-access pass.
kumdori.co.kr 042-862-4000

Meworld Busan
Located near Gwangalli beach, Meworld’s ferris wheel offers spectacular views of Gwangalli Bridge and Haeundae. W16,000 – W20,000 for an all-access pass. meworld.co.kr 051-750-6000

Tongdo Fantasia Yangsan, Gyeongsang Province
The usual rides and concessions. W21,000 – W26,000 for an
all-access pass. fantasia.co.kr 055-379-7000

Even More Zoos
Cheongju Land Cheongju, Chungcheong Province
All kinds of mammals, birds, and reptiles are found at this zoo. W500 – W1,000. cjuland.co.kr 043-200-4705

Jeonju Zoo Jeonju, Jeolla Province
Boasting over 106 species and 710 total animals, Jeonju Zoo is home to endangered animals like jaguars and hippopotamuses. W400 – W1,300. zoo.jeonju.go.kr 063-281-2713

The Park Busan
Located at Busan Children’s Grand Park. The Park is currently under renovation and will reopen later this year.  051-816-3871

ZooZoo Goyang, Gyeonggi Province
Get even closer to the animals! Located just outside of Seoul, ZooZoo is an indoor and outdoor animal park that offers several hands-on, educational activities.
W5,000 – W19,500. themezoozoo.or.kr 031-962-4500

June 12th – 20th

The arrival of fireflies is a surefire way to know summer is here. This festival celebrates the critters that light up to match the warm and cozy atmosphere of summer nights in the Korean countryside. The best time to see fireflies is at night starting from about 9 pm, and the festival has plenty of other activities to enjoy while you wait, including bare-hands trout fishing and river rafting. For families with children, there are puppet shows and music concerts, and couples can take a romantic evening stroll across the firefly-lit “bridge of love.” Events take place in various locations across Muju.
firefly.or.kr 063-324-2440

June 12th – 19th

Falling on the 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar calendar, Dano began as an offering paid to the gods and over time became a celebration when women played on swings and dyed their hair while men had wrestling matches. The heyday of this quirky holiday has passed, but Gangneung has done a pretty good job of preserving it, even managing to have it registered as an UNESCO intangible cultural property. If you’re into traditional costumes and rituals to the mountain gods, or if you just want to play fun games like tuho (arrow throwing), Korean wrestling, and tug-of-war (6/16), stop by the Dano Festival Grounds by the Namdae River in Gangneung.
No English website. danojefestival.or.kr, 033-641-1593

June 9th – 13th

Come to Bupyeong, a district in Incheon just west of Seoul, for a reminder of Korea as it used to be before CGV and GOM TV when folk were entertained by the traditional performance known as pungmul. The festival begins on the 9th with a prayer ceremony to be held at the Bupyeong History Museum (Galsan Stn. Incheon line 1), but most of the main events take place on the 12th and 13th. Check out the stage for pungmul performers near Bupyeong Market Stn. (Incheon line 1). You can also learn how to spin the sangmo (the long ribbon attached to a hat in a traditional performance) and get a glimpse of the pungmul parade at 5 pm on the 12th and 13th.
bpf.or.kr/index.asp 032-509-7517

Words and shots by Simon Bond

The crown jewel of Korean festivals? A rather bold statement, but the Lotus Lantern Festival is an impressive event that you shouldn’t miss. The festival happens the week before Buddha’s Birthday (May 21st) and is mainly centered on Insadong and Jogyesa Temple in central Seoul.

A good way to get started would be to take in two of Seoul’s most famous temples. At Jogyesa, you’ll be greeted by the amazing “lantern roof” that extends all around the temple. The lanterns contain people’s wishes, written for the upcoming holiday. You might also see people making lanterns for the parade. The next place to visit is Bongeunsa Temple near COEX mall. At Bongeunsa from May 14th to May 23rd you can see a lantern exhibition containing lanterns of different shapes and sizes.

The main events take place on the weekend of the 15th-16th of May. Head to Insadong on the evening of the 15th to take part in “yeondeung nori” (lotus lantern games). Be prepared to be dragged into the dancing going on there as the festival feeling builds! The next day at midday, head to Jogyesa temple for the street fair taking place outside. The street fair has several stages with performances going on throughout the day. If you like crafts, you can make your own lantern at one of the street stalls. For lunch, try some of the traditional Korean temple food for sale. Adventurous pilgrims might consider a visit to Dongguk University Stadium (Dongguk University St., line 3, ex. 6), which hosts the Buddhist cheer rally from 4:30 till 6 pm as the evening builds towards the crescendo of the parade.

The parade starts at 7 pm, running from Dongdaemun through the Jonggak intersection and finishing at Jogyesa. Once the parade arrives, you’ll be entertained for well over an hour as floats and lanterns-bearers pass by. There are thousands of lanterns, but some of the most spectacular are the fire-breathing dragons and the large lotus-shaped lanterns. The smaller lanterns though are also enchanting, especially as they are lit up at night. The costumes worn in the parade are also quite beautiful, and there are participants from many different Buddhist countries including Thailand and India. If you wish to get a good spot to see the parade, it’s advisable to get there early, as the crowds for this parade are invariably huge. Subway options include Jongno 3-ga St. (lines 1, 3, and 5), Jonggak St. (line 1), and Jongno 5-ga St. (line 1).

The final event of the evening is a big celebration at the Jonggak intersection, which goes on till 11 pm. On the following Friday, Buddha’s birthday, there will be ceremonies in temples across Korea. If you’re in Seoul, the best place to be for Buddha’s Birthday is Jogyesa.

For more details about the festival, visit llf.or.kr/eng or call 02-2011-1744.

Soccer moms, rejoice! (Soccer children, we hope you’ll have a good time, too.) International Football Education (IFE) is offering free soccer clinics for players aged 5-13 years to be held during the month of May at locations around Seoul. The free clinics are part of the countdown to the launch of IFE Camps and the Elite IFE Academy structure due to kick off in summer 2010.

Space is limited, so if you wish to participate you should contact the IFE Academy directly.

www.ifeasoccer.com ifeasoccer@gmail.com, 010-8123-0282