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Everland

Everland is South Korea's largest theme park. It is located at the Everland Resort in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. In 2018, it received 5.85 million visitors and was ranked 19th in the world for amusement park attendance. As of 2010, Everland is measured to be approximately 1,200,000 square yards.[1] Along with its main attractions, Everland includes a zoo and water park known as Caribbean Bay. Everland is operated by Samsung C&T Corporation (formerly known as Samsung Everland, Cheil Industries), a subsidiary of the Samsung Group.[2]

It first opened under the name Yongin Farmland, and received its current name in 1996.[3]

The park is accessible by public transportation (buses and the EverLine railway),[4] as well as by dedicated shuttle buses that stop by various places in Seoul.[5]

History

Construction on the park first began in 1968.[6] Initially, plans existed to build the park in Anseong, but that city ultimately declined to host it.[7] It eventually opened to the public on April 18, 1976 under the name "Yongin Farmland" .[8][9][10] At the time of its opening, admission fees were 600 won for adults and 300 won for children.[8] For its first year in operation, it received 880,000 visitors.[6]

The park initially had an area of 1500 ha, and was mostly themed around nature. It had around 200 species of animals and an orchard with fruit trees.[8] The park was also agriculturally productive, and shipped products abroad.[6] Visitors were able to go on "safaris" to see exotic animals, such as lions, tigers, and giraffes.[8] The park was the first in East Asia to offer a safari experience with free ranging lions.[10] Until the 1990s, an acrobatics show featuring boars was a popular attraction in the park. The park also had a rose garden with 3,500 roses of 122 species.[8][6]

The park initially offered 9 rides: the "Jet Coaster", a carousel, a sports car ride, boat rides, a chair swing ride, and spinning teacups.[10] Around the 1980s, the number of rides was significantly expanded. Additions included a flume ride (1981), Space Ferris Wheel (1982), Viking (1983), Flying Dragon Train (1986), and Fantasy Express (1988).[6][9] A facility for sledding now called[10] "Snow Buster" also opened in January 1988;[6][9] it was the first of its kind in South Korea.[8][6] In 1989, it opened an exhibition about dinosaurs, and in 1991 it opened an exhibition about mummies.[9] In 1992 it opened the roller coaster Eagle's Fortress .[6] The Amazon Express opened in 1994.[8][6]

They introduced several more safari options, including a tiger safari (1980), a bear safari (1990), and a herbivore safari (2010).[6] In June 1986, they began running a Rose Festival, which one JoongAng Ilbo reporter claims was the first flower festival in South Korea. The park also began a tulip garden, which began hosting its own festivals in April 1992.[8]

For its 20th anniversary in 1996, the park changed its name to "Everland".[3][8] That July, it also opened its water park Caribbean Bay: the first such water park in South Korea.[8][6] Caribbean Bay reached 1 million visitors 13 months after opening.[3]

In 2001, it had 9.1 million visitors, making it the sixth most visited theme park in the world.[9]

In 2008, it opened South Korea's first wooden roller coaster, T Express. The ride has since remained popular.[8]

For the 45th anniversary of the park in 2021, it opened a Natural Farm Homage Garden as a tribute to the park's beginnings. It also had a number of events and exhibits that evoked the technology of the time, as well as the history of the park.[8][3]

By 2024, the park had around 270 million visitors total throughout its history.[6]

Themed areas

Everland is divided into five zones: Global Fair, Zootopia, European Adventure, Magic Land, and American Adventure.[9]

Global Fair

Global Fair is primarily a place for food, souvenirs, and pictures as visitors enter and exit the park. There are shops and restaurants, also services such as rental stroller and lockers.[11]

Zootopia

Zootopia is an animal-themed zone. There is a small zoo with a variety of animals including birds, giant pandas, sea lions, penguins, bears, lions, tigers, and primates. A safari bus ride is also available, allowing visitors to watch some of the animals while on the move, such as ligers and bears, roaming in a contained habitat. The visitors stay on the bus. Amazon Express is a raft ride, where most visitors get splashed with water. There was also a petting zoo contains farm animals and small domestic animals such as goats and sheep to pet. Kosik, one of Zootopia's elephants, made it to the headlines when he demonstrated an ability to imitate Korean words. In 2016, giant pandas Aibao and Lebao arrived at Everland. In 2020, Aibao gave birth to her daughter Fubao. Fubao is the first giant panda to be born in South Korea, In 2023, Aibao gave birth to twin daughters Ruibao and Huibao.[12]

European Adventure

European Adventure has restaurants with European architectural styles. There is a flower garden encircled by a train, games and arcades. It includes the Mystery Mansion attraction, in which visitors can shoot at ghosts. In March 2008, a ride named "T Express" was added. It is the first roller-coaster in South Korea to be constructed out of wood.[13]

Magic Land

Magic Land encloses a display of buildings and rides. There is a section called Aesop's Village where the characters and themes are primarily drawn from the fables of Aesop.[9] The Ferris wheel provided views of the whole park until it closed in 2011 to allow for more rides. There is a log flume, a futuristic flying ride, and a robot ride. Along with the rides, there are restaurants and stands.[14]

American Adventure

Themes from American history are presented in this portion of the park. There is one Western themed ride located in this section called 'Rodeo'.

In Rock Ville, the theme is the 1950s and its music. The Double Rock Spin is a main attraction where live bands play near the Rolling X-Train, one of the roller coasters in the park.

Attractions

Roller Coasters

T Express

T Express, which opened in 2008, is the first wooden roller coaster and the largest in South Korea. It is the 3rd longest wooden coaster in the world at 5838 ft long. The steepest point is the first drop, having an angle of 77 degrees.[13] Its name is based on T World, a Korean wireless phone company run by SK Telecom which sponsored the ride.[15][16]

T Express

T Express, which opened in 2008, is the first wooden roller coaster and the largest in South Korea. It is the 3rd longest wooden coaster in the world at 5838 ft long. The steepest point is the first drop, having an angle of 77 degrees.[13] Its name is based on T World, a Korean wireless phone company run by SK Telecom which sponsored the ride.[15][16]

Jigu Maul (Global Village)

The Jigu Maul (which means "Global village") was established in August 1985 as the first dark boat ride in South Korea. It shows worldwide traditions, cultural customs, scenery with dolls and iconic miniatures from more than 18 countries,[17] similar to the "It's a Small World" attraction at Disney Parks. However, due to safety reasons, it was torn down in 2016. Currently, there is a children's playground in the same location, called "Hide Away".

Characteristics of Jigu Maul

  • Europe has dolls representing Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, England, Spain and Sweden.
  • The Arctic and North Pole feature dolls representing Scandinavia.
  • America has dolls representing Brazil, Mexico and the United States with a miniaturized Golden Gate in San Francisco, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
  • Africa has wild animals with natural forests and dolls representing Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya's ethnic group of Maasai people.
  • Asia has dolls representing India, China with a miniaturized Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) in Beijing, Japan with Matsuri folk-dancing, Korea with traditional percussion performance named Samulnori and fan dancing named Buchaechum at a miniaturized Namdaemun in Seoul.

Characteristics of Jigu Maul

  • Europe has dolls representing Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, England, Spain and Sweden.
  • The Arctic and North Pole feature dolls representing Scandinavia.
  • America has dolls representing Brazil, Mexico and the United States with a miniaturized Golden Gate in San Francisco, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
  • Africa has wild animals with natural forests and dolls representing Egypt, South Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya's ethnic group of Maasai people.
  • Asia has dolls representing India, China with a miniaturized Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) in Beijing, Japan with Matsuri folk-dancing, Korea with traditional percussion performance named Samulnori and fan dancing named Buchaechum at a miniaturized Namdaemun in Seoul.

Tulip Festival

Everland hosts the Tulip Festival from March to April each year. There are also special performances such as musicals and parades.[18][19]

Winter Festival

Everland also hosts seasonal events during winter, including the Christmas Fantasy festival.[20]

Attendance

Gallery

See also

External links

References

  1. Haesun Paik. Adapting Disneyland's service strategy to Korea's Everland theme park UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones, 558, 2010, retrieved 30 March 2021^
  2. Kyong-ae Choi. New Samsung C&T to be launched today The Korea Times, 2015-08-31, retrieved 2021-04-20^
  3. A look back at 45 years of ever-changing Everland, part 2 Samsung C&T Newsroom, 2021-04-19, retrieved 2021-04-20^
  4. EVERLAND - Public Transport wwwrod.everland.com, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  5. EVERLAND - Shuttle Bus wwwrod.everland.com, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  6. 예지 구. "푸바오 신드롬에 매출 사상 최대" 48년 역사 에버랜드[장수브랜드 탄생비화] Newsis, 2024-06-10, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  7. 상호 송. <연재> 작가 송상호의 <재미로 보는 안성이야기> www.wrtimes.co.kr, July 27, 2021, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  8. 종현 백. ‘라떼는 말야 자연농원이었어’ 마흔다섯 살 생일 맞은 에버랜드 JoongAng Ilbo, 2021-03-24, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  9. 성환 김. 꿈이 깃든 테마파크 에버랜드 - 디지털용인문화대전 Encyclopedia of Korean Local Culture, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  10. A look back at 45 years of ever-changing Everland, part 1 Samsung C&T Newsroom, 2021-04-15, retrieved 2024-06-13^
  11. 꿈이 깃든 테마파크 에버랜드 - 디지털용인문화대전 yongin.grandculture.net, retrieved 2025-05-29^
  12. Kosik the talking elephant Atlas Obscura, retrieved 2023-02-17^
  13. Keerti. 15 Interesting Facts About Everland 27 June 2016, retrieved 2023-02-17^
  14. Everland Theme Park retrieved 2020-05-30^
  15. Duane Marden. T Express - Everland (Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea) Roller Coaster DataBase, retrieved 2023-07-26^
  16. 승완 오. 낙하각도 77도의 아찔함 Naver, retrieved 2023-07-24^
  17. everland. everland. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.^
  18. Everland Tulip Festival^
  19. Dreaming theme park Everland grandculture(http://www.grandculture.net/)^
  20. Everland ushers in early holiday season with Christmas Fantasy festival The Korea Herald, 2025-11-24^
  21. TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2008, retrieved November 20, 2012^
  22. TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2009, retrieved November 20, 2012^
  23. TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2010, retrieved November 20, 2012^
  24. TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2011, retrieved November 20, 2012^
  25. TEA/AECOM 2014 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2015, retrieved June 4, 2015^
  26. TEA/AECOM 2015 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2016, retrieved June 3, 2016^
  27. TEA/AECOM 2016 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2020, retrieved March 1, 2020^
  28. TEA/AECOM 2017 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2020, retrieved March 1, 2020^
  29. TEA/AECOM 2018 Global Attractions Attendance Report Report Themed Entertainment Association, 2020, retrieved March 1, 2020^
  30. Everland everland.com, Samsung Everland, retrieved 8 May 2011^
  31. History of the Resort everland.com, Samsung Everland, retrieved 8 May 2011^
  32. Themed Entertainment Association/Economics Research Associates’ Attraction Attendance Report teaconnect.org, Themed Entertainment Association, retrieved 8 May 2011^