It's Halloween season

A decorated tree for this year’s Halloween season stands near the entrance of Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. / Korea Times photos by Jung Min-ho

Everland offers scary attractions to try, if you dare

By Jung Min-ho

Seventeen years ago, a little girl was mauled to death by a lion during her picnic at a safari park. Her parents and a zookeeper ended up killing themselves out of guilt and the park was closed permanently.

This is the (fictional) story behind the Horror Safari, which opened last month at Everland for this year’s Halloween season (Sept. 8 to Oct. 31). The park of dozens of zombies is waiting to be explored, if you think you are brave enough for a visit.

During daytime hours, visitors can see lions, tigers and bears at the safari park. But after the sun goes down, zombies take over the place.

Visitors wait in line to enter the Horror Maze.

The Horror Safari trip begins in a bus with spooky music as well as a guide, who will scare you and make you laugh during the 30-minute journey.

The guide explains weird things that happened at the safari park, following the young girl’s death, while the bus makes a few stops for things you need to see. Brace for zombies that may come very near you at any moment.

At the end of the journey, the bus stops in front of a shrine surrounded by candles. There, the guide takes a passenger out of the bus to check out the place. If you want to be chosen, do not sit too far from the front door.

The entrance of the Horror Village

When the bus stops at a fallen tree blocking the road, the highlight begins. Passengers have to get off the bus and walk to the exit. Zombies and other scary things, including a chainsaw murderer, are waiting for you.

A few minutes of walking can take you to the exit door. But, keep in mind that it isn’t over until it’s over.

The attraction runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with an extra cost of 5,000 won ($4.5).

Ghost decorations

Horror Maze

For those who feel the Horror Safari isn’t enough, they can try the Horror Maze within the Horror Village.

The attraction offers a different kind of scare, which can be summed up in three ways ― darkness, enclosed spaces and only few people around you.

A leader of a group four or five people is given a flashlight that barely works, and the mission is to go through the maze to find the exit.

In each room, scary creatures wait for you. With their looks and sounds, they startle you when you are not ready. If you want to enjoy the experience to the fullest, stand in the front or at the back of the line.

If you feel that you cannot make it to the end, you are advised to make an X sign, and some people do appreciate the option to give up in the middle. Children younger than 15 years old are not allowed to enter the maze.

The attraction runs from noon to 9 p.m. with an extra cost of 5,000 won.

Wearing costumes and makeup

Halloween events are in full swing at Everland, where visitors can see elaborate decorations, theme parks, enjoy special food and other attractions.

Not everything is super scary. Visitors can enjoy the Halloween season in their own ways. Many people take photos with special decorations and “ghosts” across the amusement park.

In the Horror Village, you may see people wearing costumes and makeup for themselves. If you want to join them, you can get makeup services and rent costumes from the Salon de Madame Zombie in the village. The place offers creepy makeup and 200 costumes of 15 kinds.