Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Aqua Planet 63 to close this month after 39 years
This Feb. 28, 2019, file photo shows a woman wearing a mermaid costume performing underwater with the Korean national flag during a show at Aqua Planet 63, inside the 63 Building, Seoul. One of the first Korean public aquariums, Aqua Planet 63, will permanently close on June 30 after 39 years of operation, according to its announcement posted earlier this week. Newsis
By Jung Min-ho
Korea's oldest existing public aquarium, Aqua Planet 63, will permanently close on June 30 after 39 years of operation, according to its announcement posted earlier this week.
Opened in 1985 inside the 63 Building, then the tallest structure in Asia, Aqua Planet 63 was one of the country's most symbolic entertainment facilities and a much-loved destination for Koreans, especially children.
It housed as many as 30,000 marine creatures from 250 species and used to be the only Korean aquarium where visitors could observe emperor penguins, a species regarded as challenging to keep in captivity.
The aquarium's signature mermaid show, among its various attractions, was very popular and has been imitated by other aquariums.
According to Hanwha Hotels & Resorts, its operator, some 90 million visitors have enjoyed the aquarium since its opening.
Another of the building's popular attractions, 63 Art, an art gallery, will also close on the same date.
The facilities will be renovated as a new space for Centre Pompidou Hanwha Seoul, a project the company aims to complete by the end of 2025 in collaboration with Centre Pompidou directors in Paris.