Busan opens second branch of theme park Lotte World Adventure
Published: 31 Mar. 2022, 14:48
Updated: 31 Mar. 2022, 17:27
BUSAN — Theme park Lotte World Adventure Busan opened its doors Thursday to entertain thrill-seekers in the southeastern region of the country.
The opening of the amusement park is part of Busan’s 6-trillion-won ($4.9 billion) mega project to build an Osiria Tourism Complex in Gijang County which has been adding hotels, shops, restaurants, golf courses and other entertainment facilities to make the area a travel destination all year long.
Lotte World Adventure Busan is the only theme park in the port city after the last one in Gwangalli closed in 2019.
Three rides — Giant Digger, Giant Splash and Giant Swing — target serious thrill-seekers while another six specifically cater to children. Parades with dancers in colorful costumes will be held twice a day.
“Lotte World Adventure Busan will help revive the economy in Busan and neighboring regions,” said Lotte World CEO Choi Hong-hoon during an online press conference last week.
“We will become an icon of Busan’s cultural assets in order to inspire more people to choose Busan as their travel destination. We will create synergy with other facilities in Osiria Tourism Complex as we bring all the knowhow we have accumulated in theme park operation.”
The park's Giant Swing ride lifts you 44.8 meters (147 feet) up off the ground for a nice view of Haeundae beach before letting loose and rocking back and forth like a swing. It also spins to face the inland's buildings and mountains. It moves similarly to Lotte World Adventure Seoul’s Gyro Swing, but its pillars are taller for larger movements.
Giant Digger, a roller coaster, reaches speeds of 105 kilometers (65 miles) per hour on the 1-kilometer-long track, turning 360 degrees three times.
Giant Splash is a boat ride that ascends 44.6 meters to fall at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour into a pool of water to create a splash that reaches not only the ones on the ride but also the spectators.
“With the harsh winds that come from being by the seawater, the thrilling rides focus more on going fast or making twists than providing a sudden drop from higher up,” said Lotte World Adventure Busan Chief Executive Ha Heon-min.
To prevent too many people from visiting right after the opening, due to Covid-19 worries, the park is take reservations online to limit the daily admissions to 6,000 until April 10.
The city expects the tourism complex to bring in about 20 million visitors a year. It takes about 20 minutes by car to get to the complex area from Haeundae Beach, and about 30 minutes from the Busan Station.
BY LEE SUN-MIN [summerlee@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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