Everland unveils 'KPop Demon Hunters' zone for autumn festival

Visitors pose in front of the "KPop Demon Hunters" zone at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 18. Courtesy of Samsung C&T

Everland is turning K-pop into a major draw this fall with a new attraction inspired by the hit Netflix animated film “KPop Demon Hunters.” The themed zone, opening Friday as part of the park’s largest autumn festival, highlights how Korean pop culture has become a powerful commercial and cultural force, expected to drive attendance and enthusiasm at the “Everland of OZ” celebration.

In collaboration with Netflix, Everland has reimagined part of its festival content zone into an interactive playground inspired by the animated film’s K-pop idol characters and their magical battles.

Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the world of fan-favorite characters through arcade-style shooting games, rhythm dance challenges, mission-based quests and a variety of themed photo zones.

A giant art installation of Derpy the tiger, full-size character displays and all-day screening of the movie’s popular soundtracks on large LED screens will add to the atmosphere. The zone also showcases 38 types of limited merchandises, from plush dolls and costume figures to embroidered hats and magnets only available at Everland.

Visitors pose with "KPop Demon Hunters" merchandise in the theme zone at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 18. Courtesy of Samsung C&T

Visitors can also enjoy exclusive food offerings from the rival groups Huntrix and Saja Boys, reflecting a distinctive K-pop fan culture where performers express gratitude by offering meals, coffee and small gifts to fans attending their events — a tradition that’s unique to Korea’s vibrant entertainment scene and gaining global attention.

Beyond food and photos, the zone also offers various playful challenges, such as a game recreating Derpy’s habit of placing fallen flowerpots upright and a whack-a-mole game themed on Huntrix’s demon hunting. Visitors can also pose like characters inside performance-inspired photo booths and even try makeup and costumes to transform themselves into movie characters.

The K-pop them joins the broader “Everland of OZ” festival, which opened Sept. 5 and has already drawn about 250,000 visitors. Running through Nov. 16, the autumn festival is anchored to the classic Wizard of Oz fantasy world, showcasing the cheerful Emerald City and the eerie Blood City, both offering immersive photo zones, live shows, themed food and interactive experiences.

Dancers dressed as characters from "The Wizard of Oz" march during Everland's autumn festival's "Smiley Pumpkin Parade" in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sept. 9. Courtesy of Samsung C&T

At the Four Seasons Garden, redesigned as Emerald City, classic characters such as the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion appear in themed zones and topiary displays. At night, the park turns darker with Blood City, a horror zone that reinterprets Oz through zombies, haunted mazes and the nightly “Crazy Zombie Hunt in Oz” live performances.

Adding to the excitement is “Memory Carnival,” an immersive escape adventure also launching Friday.

Created in partnership with leading escape room company Key Escape, the attraction transforms a 1,450-square-meter space into a mysterious village where people’s memories are stored on tapes. Designed for teams of up to six with 14 themed rooms, the large-scale experience blends the thrill of escape games with Everland’s signature theatrical scale.