New wonders ofJ eju
Recently installed attractions and various activities on South Korea’s biggest island are worth a try by frequent visitors who come to enjoy the area’s magnificent scenery
South Korea is one of the most popular overseas destinations among Thais. Of all 8.79 million Thai tourists abroad last year, 435,426 visited South Korea, 10.01% up from the previous year, and spent over 16 billion baht there, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
To Thais, well-known Korean destinations include Seoul, Busan and Jeju, a volcanic island recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2007. Besides the island’s famous dormant Hallasan Volcano, flower fields, green tea plantations, waterfalls and caves, visiting new theme parks and attending workshops seem to be a good idea.
Located southwest of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju is the largest island in Korea and a world-class resort town covering an area of 1,848m². It is also a transportation hub of Northeast Asia, connected to major cities in China, Taiwan and Japan. It is where visas are exempted for up to 30 days for citizens from more than 180 countries.
The whole island is a geological park. Must-sees include the Jeju World Natural Heritage Centre, Manjanggul Cave and Seongsan Ilchulbong Park. Nature lovers will surely like to visit the beautiful Cheonjeyeon Waterall and Jungmun Daepo Jusangjeolli Cliff. Culture vultures should not miss Jeju Stone Park and Eco Land while listening to an old story called Samdado. The legend is about the beginning of Jeju and involved stones, wind and women.
Frequent visitors to Jeju may want to experience new things. A new attraction on this island is Jeju Shinhwa World, a large complex of shops, restaurants, hotels, vendors, a duty free shop, a theme park and a water park, in the Andeok-myeon area of Seogwipo-si district.
At the entrance of the newly opened Shinhwa Theme Park, tourists should not miss opportunities to listen to music, sip coffee and other drinks or bowl and play other fun games at YG Republique, a K-pop content-based entertainment complex.
Shinhwa Theme Park was developed by TUBAn, a Korea-based global 3D animation studio that created the lovely and internationally-famed animated Larva character. It is divided into three zones — Rotary Park, Oscar’s New World and Larva Adventure Village.
The Rotary Park is a steampunk-themed area featuring all the famous characters developed by TUBAn. It was built in late 19th century architectural fashion. At Finding Larva, visitors can journey to find Larva hidden in a moment of history while wearing 3D glasses. At Rotary Park 4D Theatre, visitors can enjoy the world’s first 4D dome theatre showcasing an adventurous world with the Rotary Park veterans who are defenders of Earth. At Flying Whirl, they will turn 360 degrees backwards in the air on the skyrocketing flying whirl. Visitors are treated to an adventure fantasy show called Mystic Island, enjoy snacks and beverages and shop for TUBAn products and Shinhwa souvenirs.
Oscar’s New World depicts a mysterious jungle that offers Inca and Maya civilisation-themed rides. Visitors will feel like entering an ancient city hidden in the forest with stone structures and dappled trees. They can explore the canopy and secret rooms in a temple or enter a battle to restore utopia.
Larva Adventure Village is where visitors can meet many famous characters from various myths and children’s stories. Children can play in this special zone and enjoy folk tales from all over the world in a simple and joyful manner.
Visitors also can enjoy any of 15 fun rides and numerous attractions at the park. At Oscar’s New World, kids and adults can enjoy Buck’s Dance, a dance party on the way to Inca city, and Dancing Oscar, an adventurous journey with Oscar. They will also brace for a whirlwind jungle expedition with Oscar at Oscar’s Spin’n Bump, and take a ride on a mythical dragon at Oscar’s Dragon.
A highlight is Oscar’s V World, which has a car racing simulation game, a robot simulator with robot shooting games, a circle simulator with a roller-coaster with the background of Yongmeori Coast and Sanbangsan Mountain in Jeju, a car simulator with a roller-coaster in the middle of the themed city and a VR theatre screening war animation films.
Just an eight-minute drive from Jeju Shinhwa World are the popular O’Sulloc Tea House Museum and Innisfree Jeju House.
The museum tells of and promotes the tea-drinking culture and boasts tea houses. Meanwhile, at Innisfree Jeju House, visitors can observe soap making and even join a soap-making workshop (147 baht per person). They will be taught to mix the provided soap based with the powder of one of Jeju’s famous natural ingredients — green tea, tangerines and volcanic clay — and knead the mixture and put it into moulds in various shapes. They can take the soap back home proudly. Beside the building is a large green tea plantation where tourists enjoy strolling, taking pictures and selfie.