Celebrate Seollal with traditional games at amusement parks

Amusement parks across Korea offer festive activities and discounts for the Lunar New Year holiday

"Jijigo Bokgo Alley Playground" event at Seoul Land (Seoul Land)

Amusement parks in Korea are preparing a variety of events to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday Seollal.

Seoul Land announced Tuesday that it will host the "Jijigo Bokgo Alley Playground" event in the park's Samchulli Hill area from Jan. 25 to 30.

In this nostalgic alley, guests can enjoy photo zones wearing retro costumes and play traditional games such as ttakji-chigi (paper tile flipping) and squid, a game in which teams push and pull to control a squid-shaped space drawn on the ground. Visitors can purchase nostalgic items like dalgona (traditional candy), kites and paper dolls. A fortunetelling booth, magic shows and a daily fireworks display will also be part of the festivities.

At Snow Fun Land, another area of the theme park, visitors can enjoy activities like sledding and ice fishing.

"Hanbok Photo Time" at Everland (Everland)

Everland is also celebrating Seollal with the "Exciting K-Game Festival," running from Jan. 25 to Feb. 2. Visitors can experience traditional Korean games featured in the popular series “Squid Game,” enjoy daily fireworks shows and take part in a variety of customer participation events.

Everland’s Carnival Square offers a chance to try five traditional games: ttakji-chigi, biseok-chigi (stone-throwing), gongi (jacks), spinning top and jegi (hackey sack). A board game zone will also be set up at the Carnival Square stairs, where visitors can play rock-paper-scissors and try to win a race up the stairs.

Visitors can also enjoy “Hanbok Photo Time," a chance to take pictures with Everland's lion mascots Lenny and Lala, who will be dressed in traditional Korean attire.

At Magic Time Restaurant, located near Carnival Square, guests can enjoy traditional Seollal dishes such as tteok mandu guk (rice cake soup with dumplings).

At Everland Zoo, visitors can participate in the "Bao Yutnori Game" with panda characters and win souvenirs and discount coupons by completing challenges.

Seollal parade at Lotte World Adventure (Lotte World Adventure)

Lotte World Adventure is showcasing a vibrant parade featuring its mascots Lotti and Lori, dressed in traditional hanbok, accompanied by lively rhythms of Korean traditional percussion instruments until Feb. 16. In addition to the parade, the Adventure Folk Museum at Lotte World Adventure is hosting a special exhibition focusing on the royal culture of Joseon, offering a glimpse into the life of kings, royal events and festivals of the era.

Meanwhile, Lotte World Aquarium is introducing a special event from Jan. 28 to 30, where aquarists will perform for the audience dressed in hanbok. The highlight of the event is a baby Humboldt penguin also wearing traditional Korean attire.

Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, will offer discounts of up to 59 percent off regular prices during the Seollal holidays. Visitors can enjoy special programs, which include a serving of tteokguk, the rice cake soup traditionally served with breakfast on New Year's Day, and receive a souvenir scarf depicting a snake, this year's zodiac animal.