Movie Studios Invade South Korea
On Tuesday, Paramount Pictures unveiled plans to open a theme park in South Korea, a country that's already crammed with movie studio resorts. Six months ago, Universal Studios announced its intent to open a similar venture. The trend started back in 2006 when MGM revealed plans for their Studio City theme park and film academy. All three theme parks will be located within an hour of Seoul.
The movie studios see South Korea as a "fast-growing and attractive market" because it's popular with Chinese tourists. The execs also cite the almost magical hold Korean pop culture has on the rest of Asia. Paramount expects to host over 5 million visitors during their first year in South Korea with attractions based on movies like "Mission: Impossible" and "Tomb Raider."
Paramount's "Movie Park" and MGM Studio City will both be neighbors in Incheon, a city that's about a half-hour west of Seoul. The Universal Studios park will be headquartered to the South in Hwaseong, which is connected to Seoul by subway. When all of the construction is completed in 2012, South Korea will offer visitors a world-class combination of theme park entertainment and barbecue the likes of which has not been seen anywhere in the world since Dollywood opened its doors in Nashville in 1961.
Related Stories:
· Paramount Movie Park Korea Planned for 2011 [LADN]
· MGM Plans £585m South Korea Theme Park [Guardian]
· Universal Studios to Build Theme Park in Korea [IHT]
· Theme Parks coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo of Seoul's Lotte World: randomwire]
