Despite the turmoil currently going on Korea that’s not stopping the plans of big business any. Lionsgate is planning to open a theme park spanning roughly 1.3 million square feet inside Korea’s Jeju Shinhwa World as of 2019. The massive project is scheduled to begin construction this coming year and will be focusing heavily upon Hunger Games, Twilight, and Now You See Me themes that will be brought to life in various ways throughout the park. This will be Korea’s first real theme park and the first park built exclusively around movies that have been active on a global scale.
One might ask why this is happening if there’s such a problem with Korea/U.S. relations at the moment, but the answer is that as of now everything is business as usual. Even the prospect of war can’t always seem to dampen the commercial opportunities that are just waiting to be had.
The impressive park will also be incorporating the upcoming Robin Hood starring Taron Egerton, though it will likely be a lesser attraction as compared to Twilight and Now You See Me attractions. These two seem to have caught the brunt of the attention when it comes to popularity in Korea, while The Hunger Games have been a favorite but not quite on the same level.
The theme park isn’t all about the Lionsgate attractions but they are a significant portion of the resort. There are also hotels, condos, and other equally lavish accommodations that have been opening up recently, and there is also a water park and plenty of other things to do at Jeju Shinhwa World. The western influence is coming through in a big way however as Lionsgate is poised to deliver a very impressive display for the guests. There will be themed-restaurants and stores, street shows for the entertainment of the guests, and even a casino and an entertainment center for people to enjoy. It’s bound to be a lot of fun.
It is still decidedly curious that Korea would allow an American company to wander in and take over so much of their them park, but the truth is that there is no ulterior motive and the desire to partake in the movie experience through the them park is very genuine. Koreans are known to be avid moviegoers and as such will no doubt fully appreciate the effort to bring them a few screen legends for their enjoyment.
The effort might seem a little ostentatious and even grandiose but as theme parks continue to grow and expand they must find new and more innovative ways to draw people in. That also means that they must eventually target new audiences and discover just what the people want. This move by Lionsgate could be one of the most lucrative of the decade and it could easily expand their global market in a way that will put them on top of the heap.
It will no doubt be an expensive resort to visit but it might also be one of the most fun experiences of a lifetime.
