- It looks like a castle from a fairytale. I feel like a princess.
- I came indoors with my children because it’s so cold outside. I saw Paraguay and the world of fairytales. I really feel like I’m in a fairytale.

A world of fairytales and fantasy? Feeling like princes and princesses? A perfect place to be on a cold day? Where could this be? Well, here is a clue. Listen to this song.

Just like the lyrics say, it’s Lotte World, the world of dreams and adventure. The indoor theme park is never affected by the weather. Lotte World offers comfortable fun even in the middle of a sizzling summer or a dreary rainy season or a freezing blizzard. So let’s enter the world of exciting adventure to escape from the latest winter freeze.

Located in the bustling commercial district in southern Seoul, Lotte World can be easily accessed from Jamsil Station of subway line number two.

Opened on July 12, 1989, Lotte World was recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records as the world’s first indoor theme park. Here’s Ahn Min-young, a member of the Lotte World PR team.

The park is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year. Lotte World is the nation’s first theme park located in the urban setting. Since its opening the park has led a new leisure and recreational culture in which people can enjoy tourism, shopping, and entertainment at one location. In 1995 Lotte World was cited by the Guinness World Book of Records as the world’s largest indoor theme park. At the time of its opening there was no other indoor amusement park of this scale. The entire theme park is composed of an indoor part called Lotte World Adventure and an outdoor park near Seokchon Lake named Magic Island, measuring 130 thousand square meters in combined area. The indoor theme park is so unique that we still get many interview requests from overseas media.

The basic concept of Lotte World is the recreation of the medieval Europe. All the buildings and street decorations are done in the medieval European style. So everywhere you go, you see a slice of ancient Europe lifestyle. Here’s Ahn Min-young from the PR team again.

Our basic concept is to recreate a small global village. So visitors can experience very exotic, European atmosphere at the park. We also have festivals for each season. Each section of the park has its own distinct national theme. Even the attractions, rides, structures, and decors are customized to fit the images of Spain, Germany, England and other European countries.

The entire expanse of Lotte World can be seen from the balloons hanging from the four-story ceiling. Moving along the rails mounted on the ceiling, the air balloons take visitors over the whole amusement park. This is a great way for the first-timers to get the general feel of the wonderland.

- People look so small from up there. Everything is sparkling and colorful. We felt like we’ve become kings and queens.
- It was amazing to have such a wide perspective and see all the rides I’ve been. Seeing all the splendor, I wish this was my home and I was a princess or a goddess. Other theme parks don’t have air balloons. This is the first thing I saw when I came here. I think riding an air balloon is a must-do attraction of Lotte World.

Lotte World is also known for its parades which follow the park’s concept of showcasing different cultures of the world.

In spring Lotte World hosts the mask festival of Venice, Italy. A magnificent and cheery masquerade filled with dancing and singing characters and performers with various masks is what sets this parade apart from all the others. Then comes summer, the season of the passionate samba carnival of Rio, Brazil.

In the fashion of traditional samba festival of Brazil, Brazilian dancers captivate visitors with their flashy and energetic samba movements. Then autumn is the season of the undead with Halloween as the focal point. Ghosts and ghouls from all parts of the world join the festive Halloween party at Lotte World.

The Halloween parade delights both children and adults. Performers clad in all sorts of scary and amusing costumes dance with visitors to make lasting memories for them. And what would winter be without Christmas? Santa Claus and elves from the North Pole descend on Lotte World to spread the holiday cheer and presents. White snow descending on visitors during the parade transports them to the fantastic winter wonderland.

In terms of extravagance, the mask festival in spring is the most lavish event. Performers wear ornate masks imported from Italy, giving visitors that wow factor. We just hosted Christmas festivals a couple of weeks back and taking advantage of the fact that the park is indoors, we sprinkled snow from the above so that visitors could enjoy the wonderful feeling of white Christmas every time.

These days Lotte Park is putting on the New Year’s parade, also known as the Lotty’s Adventure Parade.

The parade features Lotty and Lorry, the two main characters of Lotte World, as well as various characters from Lotte World attractions and the world’s major festivals.

Now that we’ve been welcomed by Lotte World characters, it’s time to check out the most exciting rides and attractions. Points of interest are scattered on the four floors of Lotte World indoor park. Living up to the name “Adventure” given to the indoor section of the park, the place is filled with adventurous rides and setups. How about starting our adventure by rescuing a princess held captive by an evil sorcerer in the adventures of Sinbad?

The Adventures of Sinbad ride is a water attraction which has the boats following an underground river. The river course is quite tumultuous and speedy, making the whole experience that much more thrilling. Riders meet pirates in their lair and pass through the tropical forests of the Amazon and even stop by the sorcerer’s cave. It can be a frightening experience for some, but it’s the best course for adventure seekers.

- The bad guys and the pirates in the Adventures of Sinbad were the greatest and most thrilling. It was also fun when the boat plunged down a slide. I was so scared and the skull was frightening, too. I rescued the princess with Sinbad. It was great.

Nothing satisfied thrill-seekers than the Viking, a giant pirate ship that swings along a giant arc. It may not look like a scary ride, but when that ship drops down from the peak, your heart will drop as well.

The pirate ship is placed above a small lake in Lotte World, creating the feeling of actually sailing on the sea.

The Pharaoh’s Fury on the fourth floor is a motion dark ride course. The cars follow the rocky trail set up along the boulders on the outside of Lotte World Adventure.

The backdrop of the Pharaoh’s Fury is decorated with pyramids and Egyptian relics from the pharaoh’s tombs. Visitors feel like they are exploring ancient Egypt in a car.

- I had fun looking at the mummies and pharaoh’s relics from the entrance. The ride was exciting and the lights and rocking motion made the experience more real and memorable.
- At first the ride seemed ordinary, but there was a surprise at the end. It was really fun. The best part was when the car dropped suddenly. The whole course was very well set up with various relics. It was really fun.

There are other attractions you can’t miss. The Flume Ride takes you on a four-person log boat which races down a great waterfall. The Giant Loop lets you experience the thrill of going upside down on a 360-degree spin, and the French Revolution on the second floor is a heart-stopping rollercoaster. These and some forty other rides and attractions keep visitors of all ages happy.

Lotte World is an indoor theme park, but it also has outdoor facilities. The romantic Magic Island located in the middle of a lake is where you can find all the outdoor fun. Accessible by a bridge connected to Lotte World Adventure or the monorail, the Magic Island offers more spine-tingling rides than the ones inside. The awesome Gyro Drop plunges you down 70 meters in just two seconds and the Gyro Swing gives you the thrill of spinning like a top. Get an alternate bungee jump experience at the Bungee Drop and the crazy twisty fun at the Waikiki Wave. Whatever ride you take, you are guaranteed to get a dose of hair-raising thrill. But when pressed to choose only one favorite, people often pick the Gyro Drop. Here’s Ahn Min-young of the Lotte World PR team.

The Gyro Drop is our most popular ride. The machine takes you up 25 stories high and drops you down to the ground level in just 2.5 seconds. There is no other facility in Korea that can take you up that high, which is why people seek out this ride.

The Magic Island can be the most romantic place at night. Lotte World was the nation’s first amusement that operated until 11 o’clock at night throughout the year. Colorful lights around the Magic Island lend a romantic glow to the entire surroundings.

Now that a tour of Lotte World Adventure and Magic Island is over, it’s time to take a glimpse into the Korean lifestyle. On the third floor of Lotte World Adventure there is a folk museum with miniature displays of traditional Korean houses and culture.

The folk museum shows how our ancestors lived from the prehistoric periods through the Japanese colonial occupation era. There are also various hands-on corners throughout the museum. In the Joseon hall, scenes from a traditional wedding or a festival are recreated in miniature models and dolls. Children and foreign visitors especially like them. There are also models of famous Joseon era architecture.

On your way out from the folk museum you can stop by to enjoy a performance on the Lotte World Garden Stage. Music, dance, and musical performances are scheduled hourly at the Garden Stage, adding another dimension of enjoyment to the Lotte World experience.

Visitors can expect to have a total package experience when they come to Lotte World. They can find five-star accommodations at Lotte Hotel right next to the theme park and do some serious shopping at a giant shopping mall with upscale shops nearby. When you come to the world’s largest indoor theme park, you will also find all the added bonus of shopping, sightseeing, and recreation.