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Universal Studios Korea

Theme Park Guy Rating: 0
Date Visited:
February 17, 2009 / November 23, 2009

Construction Update November 23, 2009

Upon returning to Hwaseong, my local helpers and I had the good fortune to bump into a hobby pilot who was just fixing his private airplane. A few minutes later we took off over the eastern part of the yet-to-be-developed Songsang Green City that will eventually turn into the Universal Studios Korea resort.

Construction hasn't commenced yet, but there are rumors that this might happen as early as spring 2010 in time to complete for the announced spring 2013 opening date. Judging by the official website, it is going to be a huge park, blessed with a talented and accomplished management team. I have high hopes for it!

On its website, Universal Studios Korea announces that it aims to become the best theme park experience in the region. To succeed, it has to beat the world number one theme park 'DisneySea' in nearby Tokyo – a sophisticated task. Steven Spielberg, a living Walt Disney, is still the creative consultant for Universal Studios theme parks. With such a captain at the helm, it's not impossible that they might just reach this lofty goal.


Direction Songsang Green City in Hwaseong Direction Songsang Green City in Hwaseong

Road 77 to the future Universal Studios site Road 77 to the future Universal Studios site

Disney's Beauty and the Beast on the way Disney's Beauty and the Beast on the way

The last village before future Songsang Green City The last village before future Songsang Green City

The future Universal Studios Korea site The future Universal Studios Korea site

A small road... A small road...

...leading to a private airport ...leading to a private airport

A hobby pilot was fixing his airplane here A hobby pilot was fixing his airplane here

Let's fly! Let's fly!

Taking off over future Universal Studios soil Taking off over future Universal Studios soil

Land reserved for the world's biggest Universal Studios resort Land reserved for the world's biggest Universal Studios resort

The location of Universal Studios Korea The location of Universal Studios Korea

The end of road 77 on the left, the runway on the right The end of road 77 on the left, the runway on the right

Turning around Turning around

Approaching Songsang runway Approaching Songsang runway

Just another office building in Seoul? Just another office building in Seoul?

Not really! USK stands for: Not really! USK stands for:

Universal Studios Korea Universal Studios Korea

Construction Update February 17, 2009

It is frigidly cold here in winter. I am on an artificial island in Hwaseong, South Korea, on which a property development called 'Songsang Green City' and the Korean Universal Studios theme park are due to be built. The flat, open land causing a chill sea breeze make me smile like the Grinch.

Local farmers point out where the site of the Korean Universal Studios is going to be. Posco Engineering, the local company in charge of building the park, told my local assistant that I’ve come way too early. Indeed. There is absolutely nothing here yet. No structure. No fence. Nothing. Just flat, green land.

It currently takes a three hour drive from the nearest international airport to get here, but if some bridges will be built, as I suspect they will, it would cut down the travel time from Seoul’s Incheon airport to 30 or 40 minutes and connect the Paramount Movie Park and the proposed MGM Studio Park with the Universal site. Wow, this is bitterly cold. Universal Studios will have a grill version in Dubai and a fridge version in Korea.

I hope they both see the light of day.


The future Songsang Green City / Universal Studios Korea site The future Songsang Green City / Universal Studios Korea site

Hwaseong / Incheon area map Hwaseong / Incheon area map

Road leading to the future Universal Studios site Road leading to the future Universal Studios site

Hwaseong dwelling Hwaseong dwelling

Approaching the site Approaching the site

Here it is: the land reserved for the future Universal Studios park Here it is: the land reserved for the future Universal Studios park

Universal Studios Korea land Universal Studios Korea land

Farmland Farmland

A local pointing to the future Universal Studios site A local pointing to the future Universal Studios site

Dinosaur eggs were found here Dinosaur eggs were found here

Technician surveying the dinosaur site Technician surveying the dinosaur site

New Songdo City in the background New Songdo City in the background

A road is being built here A road is being built here

This building looked like it will become a dinosaur museum This building looked like it will become a dinosaur museum

Universal Studios Korea site Universal Studios Korea site

Location of the dinosaur egg find Location of the dinosaur egg find

All this will be highly-developed land All this will be highly-developed land

Hwaseong bus station Hwaseong bus station