Merlin to open Korea theme park

Merlin Entertainments says it will open its ninth Legoland theme park in Korea.

Merlin currently operates six Legolands in five countries, including in Malaysia (pictured). A seventh will open in Dubai in 2016 and an eighth in Japan in 2017. Now the island of Jung-do in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, will be home to its ninth.

South Korea is one of the Lego Group’s largest markets in Asia and Koreans, like Japanese, love theme park experiences.

Chuncheon is less than two hours drive for 23.7 million people and just an hour from Seoul.

Merlin says the £172 million park will be financed and run on and operated and leased model, similar to that in Japan. Merlin will invest £57 million.

National and local governments will construct a bridge to the site and other infrastructure.

Nick Varney, Merlin Entertainments CEO, said South Korea offers both a developed theme park market and strong Lego brand recognition.

“In addition, the city of Chuncheon provides the ideal location, with great transport links and a picturesque island setting. The project is being supported at both the national and local levels, with significant contributions from both Gangwon Province and the City of Chuncheon, as well as a group of Korean investors.

“We continue to be excited by the potential opportunity of Legoland parks globally and reiterate our target of opening, on average, a new park every two to three years,” he said.

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