Vol. 4 August 2018 The best amusement & theme parks The unique Korean flavor Makgeolli Local Must-Go street markets
Let s find out what the best amusement & theme parks are in Korea! Avengers PARK Korea has some incredibly interesting parks that redefine what a theme & amusement parks can be. If you live in Korea and think of amusement parks, Lotte World and Everland might come to mind, as those two are the biggest parks in Korea and also place among the world s 20 most-visited theme parks, according to the TEA/AECOM attendance report. And given their fame, there are lots of exciting rides and attractions at both. Lotte World Everland Gyeongju World Location 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul 199, Everland-ro, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu, Yongin-si 544, Bomun-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Website www.lotteworld.com www.everland.com www.gjw.co.kr Inquiries 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 For more info: +82-1661-2000 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 For more info: +82-31-320-5000 1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 Reservation info. For foreiners :+82-54-748-3354~5 Operating hours 09:30-22:00 10:00-22:00 09:50-18:00
LOTTE WORLD EVER LAND GYEONGJU WORLD Lotte World is an enormous shopping mall, activities complex, and amusement center all under one roof. In the center of the complex you ll find an indoor ice-skating rink and above the ice rink there is an indoor amusement park. Since it is an indoor space, people can enjoy it fully even when it rains or snows. Also, there are more than 40 rides outdoors. For those looking for thrilling rides, you can challenge yourself with the Gyro Drop and Gyro Swing, which rise up 70 meters into the air! Everland is about an hour s drive from Seoul and is the biggest theme park in Korea, with five separately-themed zones including Caribbean Bay, a water park. In terms of rides, Everland offers a more varied selection of both thrillers and kid-friendly attractions. I recommend you ride the most notable attraction at Everland: the T-Express rollercoaster. Everland also features an animal safari and other animal exhibits that are guaranteed to please every young animal-lover. And don t be disappointed if you live down south! There is another sizable amusement park for people living near Busan. Gyeoungju World is the largest theme park in the southern area and Gyeongju is not too far from Busan. There are lots of thrill rides, including the rollercoasters Phaethon and the newly-launched Draken and a waterslide called Submarine Splash that are the most popular and highly recommended. People can also enjoy California Beach, which a waterpark that opens for the summer. I have personally been to Gyeongju World about five times and I strongly recommend it. It s not crowded at all, and the historical tourist district is close enough to enjoy after visiting the amusement park.
Unusual theme park recommendation: LOVE CASTLE This particular place is only for adults! The love castle is a theme park that portrays Korean sexuality in different forms. While you walk around the park, you can see sex-related sculptures and hear the sounds of love-making made by couples from different cultures. And you can buy all sorts of sex toys and gag gifts at a sex shop on-site at the park. There are also exhibition rooms, a bar and a café for tourists to enjoy yet more pleasurable sights. Address: 332, Bobul-ro, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do Website: www.lovecastle19.kr/
The unique Korean flavor of rice wine, Makgeolli! What do you want to eat on a rainy day? A lot of Koreans think of Pajeon (Korean pancake) and Makgeolli on a rainy day, and according to a news article, sales of those foods actually increase on rainy days. I never have thought about why I feel like eating Pajeon and drinking Makgeolli on a rainy day, but some other people say the sound of frying sound is similar to the sound of falling rain. For me personally, I always feel like eating crispy Pajeon when it rains because the air is muggy. So what is Makgeolli? The Korean traditional rice wine known as Makgeolli is the oldest known Korean alcoholic beverage, and it was the most popular alcohol domestically until the 1980s. It has milky appearance, is lightly carbonated, and has a flavor that is both sweet and sour. With an alcohol strength from six to seven percent, it is weaker and more quaffable than the better-known soju. Makgeolli uses three simple ingredients: rice, water and the traditional fermenting agent nuruk. Nuruk is a dry cake comprised of bacteria, wild yeasts and koji mould spores. Makgeolli is preferable to Soju when it terms of health concerns, but you should be aware that Makgeolli only lasts for a week from the day it is made.
Local Must-Go street markets in Busan Jagalchi Market The name Jagalchi is a combination of words that mean gravel and place by the sea. Women who run the markets are named Jagalchi Ajumma, which means middle aged woman. Jagalchi market is the largest fish market in Korea, with a lively atmosphere, excitement and interesting seafood. You will discover new species of sea creatures that you have never seen in your life. So it feels like a free aquarium at times, though it can be scary when the fishmongers are chop live seafood with their knives right in front you. Gukje Market Gukje means international in Korean. This market was established during the Korean War by people who were forced to go to Busan, and refugees set up stalls in order to make a living. Gukje market has everything. You can easily find clothing, food, electronic goods, souvenirs and tons of other stuff! Since you can haggle with the shop owners, many items are really cheap compared to the big box stores or even other markets. I recommend you to try Bidang (a shortened version of of bibim dangmyeon), Korean noodles made from sweet potato starch with some topped with vegetables. There are many kinds of local markets in Busan, with a variety of things to buy, eat, and see. It s time to experience real shopping time in Busan! Let me introduce the main markets popular among tourists in Busan. Kkangtong night Market Kkangtong means can in Korean. Apparently, the name originated from the Korean War when a lot of canned food from the U.S. military was traded in this market back in the day, and the name has been kept ever since. Kkangtong night market is one of the top places that you must visit in Busan. Nowadays, the market has shrunk somewhat as many foreign products are freely imported to major stores, but its reputation remains and it still has a lot of potential. This market is famous for selling various imported goods such as snacks, liquor, accessories, shoes and other things.
by For any inquiries: jini@coens.com Edited by Jini, COENS