Photo courtesy of Caribbean Bay ()
As the temperatures rise and the sun shines brightly, it’s time to dive into some summer adventures! During this season, escaping the heat and humidity is a priority, and luckily, Korea offers many great ways to get a refreshing break.
So, buckle up and get ready for four unforgettable activities to make your summer truly epic!
VISIT A WATER PARK
Enjoying thrilling water slides and entertaining pools at any of the many water parks is an easy way to cool down. Here are some of best water parks in Korea visit!
Ocean World
Located in Vivaldi Park, a popular ski resort in Gangwon-do province, Ocean World allows visitors to enjoy leisure time at a resort amidst the area’s beautiful forests and mountains. This destination is a nice getaway with an excellent hotel. The water park boasts an enchanting Egyptian theme, including replica pyramids and sphinx.
Address: 262, Hanchigol-gil, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon-do
Hours: 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Caribbean Bay
Grab your bathing suit and sunscreen and head to Caribbean Bay inside the Everland theme park complex, which is only a one-hour drive from Camp Humphreys. The incredible park is fantastic for young people and families to enjoy a day trip. It features numerous entertaining attractions and five distinct themed zones, including indoor and outdoor pools, spas, and water rides.
Address: 199 Everland-ro, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (7 p.m. on weekends)
Spa Valley
Located just 14 minutes away from Camp Walker, this great water park provides a refreshing and fun getaway for those in Daegu during the hot summer. Spa Valley offers a diverse range of attractions along with hot springs and cool pools. Within the same site, visitors can also find Nature Park with a botanical garden and zoo throughout the year.
Address: 891, Gachang-ro, Daegu
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Ticket: Naver or on site
Lotte Water Park
Lotte Water Park in Gimhae is widely recognized as the largest water park in Korea. With its Polynesian theme, the park transports visitors to the stunning beaches of the South Pacific. While basking in the exotic atmosphere, visitors can enjoy a wide array of thrilling water attractions.
Address: 555 Jangyu-ro, Gimhae-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (6 p.m. on weekends)
Ticket: Naver or on site
JOIN WATER GUN FESTIVALS
Don’t hesitate to embrace your playful side and grab a water gun to defeat the summer heat! Water gun festivals are becoming a trend in Korea, and you’ll see there are many of them scheduled around the country during the summer. Below are some fun water gun festivals you won’t want to miss. While they’re fun, you can get hurt, so make sure to prioritize safety and wear goggles when participating in water gun festivals.
2023 Watergun Festival
Formerly known as the Sinchon Water Gun Festival, this is the ultimate summer gathering in Seoul for young people. Beware, you will be soaked so plan accordingly!
Location: Line 6. Worldcup Stadium station exit 1 or 87 Jeungsan-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul
Dates: August 12 (Sat) - August 13 (Sun)
Hours: 1 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Summer Water Wars
Seoul Land hosts an annual summer festival with musical shows and water gun fights for a fun time perfect for the whole family. After enjoying the Summer Water Wars to the fullest, it’s time to have the finale of the summer nights at Luna Park for glittering lights and fireworks.
Location: 181 Gwangmyeong-ro, Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
Date: - August 27 (Sun)
Waterbomb 2023
Part-water fest, part-music fest, Waterbomb 2023 is a good one to check out this summer. Explore a diverse mix of music like K-pop, hip-hop, and EDM performances and enjoy a refreshing large-scale water bomb battle. Waterbomb 2023 is held in eight cities around the country including Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, and Busan, so go to a fest near you!
Location: Seoul, Incheon, Suwon, Sokcho, Daejeon, Daegu, Busan and Jeju
Date: - August 26 (Sat)
EXPLORE GREAT OUTDOORS
Since summers can be scorching, many flock to the great outdoors for memorable vacations. Whether you’re a beach or mountains person, Korea has many summer vacations spots you’ll love to explore.
Busan
Without a doubt, Busan is an ideal summer getaway with the perfect blend of beautiful beaches, exciting activities, and delicious cuisine. Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches offer visitors great swimming and thrilling water sports, or relaxation on soft sands and clear waters. After sunset, Busan’s nightlife comes to life with its trendy restaurants, bars, and clubs.
Gapyeong
Gapyeong is famous for its abundant natural beauty, offering clear waters flowing from mountain streams. It’s an absolute beloved destination among young people to enjoy water activities and waterfall diving. Also, the various facilities nearby make Gapyeong as a great spot for camping and glamping.
Sokcho
Sokcho is one of the best east coast vacation spots, especially for lovers of the great outdoors. The blue East Sea and Seoraksan Mountain are what draw visitors, but the area’s resorts, beaches and delicious seafood will make you a repeat visitor. If you like surfing, Yangyang Surfyy Beach nearby is a popular spot to catch a wave.
Boryeong
Boryeong is a well-known destination on the west coast and is particularly famous for the annual Mud Festival held at Daecheon Beach. As one of Korea’s leading festivals, the Mud Festival is not only popular among Koreans but also attracts foreigners to enjoy various mud activities, rides, and performances. Moreover, the beach offers various amenities, leisure facilities, cafes, and restaurants, perfect for quality time with friends and family.
ENJOY SPOOKY HAUNTED HOUSES
In Korea, summer is spooky season. Horror-themed events are meant to provide chills and scare away the summer heat.
Zombie Run
Raise your heartrate with a fun zombie run in Busan. This festival lets you get in some exercise while escaping from zombies in a dystopian-themed experience. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to party and take pics with the zombies, but eventually the chase will be on. To survive in the zombie town, you should team up with other participants to succeed with an escape plan.
Address: Busan Cinema Center, 120 Suyeonggangbyeon-daero, Haeundae-gu
Date: Sat., Aug. 5
Hours: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Ticket: 70,000 won
Haunted Prison in Joseon Dynasty
If you want to see Korean-style ghosts, then you should visit the Korean Folk Village this season! The Folk Village runs two traditional haunted houses where visitors can experience true Korean-style horror and the atmosphere from “Kingdom,” a famous Netflix show. You can encounter various Korean-style ghosts and enjoy spooky ambiance, especially during the outdoor experience held in the dark of night. You can make reservations on Naver or purchase tickets on-site. It is recommended to book in advance as on-site ticket availability may be limited.
Address: 90 Folkchon-ro, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do
Date: - November 12 (Sun)
Hours: 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. (Fri. to Sun.)
Ticket: 12,000 won (Naver or advance booking on site)
Skull Kingdom Haunted House
Located just 30 minutes away from Camp Humphreys, Sapgyoho Ocean Park contains an amusement park that features a thrilling haunted house. Known for its spine-chilling experience and realistic effects, the haunted house has become a popular dating spot for couples. Also, thanks to its location by the sea and within the amusement park, it offers a fantastic destination for families.
Address: 15, Sapgyocheon 3-gil, Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do
Hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Ticket: 12,000 won for adults / 10,000 won for teens
SPEAKIN' KOREAN
Summer: Yeoreum (여름)
Vacation: Hyuga (휴가) / Banghak(방학)
Sea/Ocean/Beach: Bada (바다)
Beach: Haebyeon (해변)
Mountain stream: Gyegok (계곡)
Swimming: Suyeong (수영)
Watermelon: Subak (수박)
Hot (temperature): Ddeugeowo-yo (뜨거워요)
Hot (weather): Deowo-yo (더워요)
Cool: Siwon-haeyo (시원해요)
When are you going on summer vacation?: Eonje yeoreum hyuga-gayo? (언제 여름 휴가 가요?)
I like summer: Jeoneun yeoreum-ee joa-yo (저는 여름이 좋아요)
It’s very hot today: Oneul neomu deowo-yo (오늘 너무 더워요)
I don’t like hot weather!: Jeoneun deoun-ge sireo-yo! (저는 더운게 싫어요!)
I need something cool: Siwonhan-ge pilyo-haeyo (시원한게 필요해요)
