Everland (Korean: 에버랜드) is South Korea's largest theme park. It is located at the Everland Resort in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. In 2018, it received 5.85 million visitors^[2] and was ranked 19th in the world for amusement park attendance.^[2] As of 2010, Everland is measured to be approximately 1,200,000 square yards.^[4] Along with its main attractions, Everland includes a zoo and water park known as Caribbean Bay. Everland is operated by Samsung C&T Corporation (formerly known as Samsung Everland, Cheil Industries), which is a subsidiary of the Samsung Group.^[5]

It first opened under the name Yongin Farmland (용인자연농원; lit. Yongin Natural Farm), and received its current name in 1996.^[6]

The park is accessible by public transportation (buses and the EverLine railway),^[7] as well as by dedicated shuttle buses that stop by various places in Seoul.^[8]

Construction on the park first began in 1968.^[9] Initially, plans existed to build the park in Anseong, but that city ultimately declined to host it.^[10] It eventually opened to the public on April 18, 1976 under the name "Yongin Farmland" (용인자연농원; lit. Yongin Natural Farm).^[11][12][13] At the time of its opening, admission fees were 600 won for adults and 300 won for children.^{[11][lower-alpha 1]} For its first year in operation, it received 880,000 visitors.^[9]

The park initially had an area of 1,500 ha (3,700 acres), and was mostly themed around nature. It had around 200 species of animals and an orchard with fruit trees.^[11] The park was also agriculturally productive, and shipped products abroad.^[9] Visitors were able to go on "safaris" to see exotic animals, such as lions, tigers, and giraffes.^[11] The park was the first in East Asia to offer a safari experience with free ranging lions.^[13] Until the 1990s, an acrobatics show featuring boars was a popular attraction in the park. The park also had a rose garden with 3,500 roses of 122 species.^[11][9]

The park initially offered 9 rides: the "Jet Coaster" (제트열차), a carousel, a sports car ride, boat rides, a chair swing ride, and spinning teacups.^[13] Around the 1980s, the number of rides was significantly expanded. Additions included a flume ride (1981), Space Ferris Wheel (우주관람차; 1982), Viking (1983), Flying Dragon Train (비룡열차; 1986), and Fantasy Express (환상특급; 1988).^[9][12] A facility for sledding now called^[13] "Snow Buster" (스노우 버스터) also opened in January 1988;^[9][12] it was the first of its kind in South Korea.^[11][9] In 1989, it opened a exhibition about dinosaurs, and in 1991 it opened a exhibition about mummies.^[12] In 1992 it opened the roller coaster Eagle's Fortress (독수리 요새).^[9] The Amazon Express (아마존 익스프레스) opened in 1994.^[11][9]

They introduced several more safari options, including a tiger safari (1980), a bear safari (1990), and a herbivore safari (2010).^[9] In June 1986, they began running a Rose Festival, which one JoongAng Ilbo reporter claims was the first flower festival in South Korea. The park also began a tulip garden, which began hosting its own festivals in April 1992.^[11]

For its 20th anniversary in 1996, the park changed its name to "Everland".^[6][11] That July, it also opened its water park Caribbean Bay: the first such water park in South Korea.^[11][9] Caribbean Bay reached 1 million visitors 13 months after opening.^[6]

In 2001, it had 9.1 million visitors, making it the sixth most visited theme park in the world.^[12]

In 2008, it opened South Korea's first wooden roller coaster, T Express. The ride has since remained popular.^[11]

For the 45th anniversary of the park in 2021, it opened a Natural Farm Homage Garden (자연농원 오마주 가든) as a tribute to the park's beginnings. It also had a number of events and exhibits that evoked the technology of the time, as well as the history of the park.^[11][6]

By 2024, the park had around 270 million visitors total throughout its history.^[9]

Everland is divided into five zones: Global Fair, Zootopia, European Adventure, Magic Land, and American Adventure.^[12]

• View of a crouching tiger from a Safari Adventure bus
• The skyline ride (like a ski lift) is a popular way to get from one section of Everland to another
• Children riding on the camel at Everland
• A scene of the animal nursery at the zoo at Everland
• A meerkat at zootopia at Everland
• Everland at dusk

• Lotte World
• Seoul Land
• Children's Grand Park, Seoul