River/Lake Water Parks Across South Korea

Looking to spend some time exploring River/Lake Water Parks Across South Korea? We have the perfect list of these hard-to-find locations.

What is a river/lake water park like in South Korea?

South Korea loves to put up seasonal, summer play areas in the wide, deep-flowing rivers. Such water parks (also known as water playgrounds) may have such things as bouncy obstacle courses sure to dump you into the cool waters, water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaks, stand-up paddle (SUP) boarding, and more! These are the ultimate outdoor play areas for water activity lovers.

How much do the river-lake water parks cost?

It’s going to vary from park to park depending on how they choose to price their activities. You will usually choose what types of activities you want to do and pay accordingly. It can range from 10,000 – 80,000 or more depending on how much fun you want to pack in.

Are all the parks the same?

Each river water park brings its own twist to the river water park experience. Some focus on the obstacle course, others focus on water skiing, and others are all about the boat rides. You may want to try a few different parks just to see which one has exactly what you are looking for and what you want to do.

In addition, each river/lake water park across South Korea offers its own list of activities and unique social experiences. Just like you find when you are in your home country, different river water parks will offer their own social experience. Some of them might make you feel more welcome and included than others. Maybe you want to feel more like you are part of a club, or maybe you want to be left alone. Finding the park where you feel the most “at home” can greatly add to how much fun you have! For example, some of the South of Seoul volunteers like to go back to the same spots over and over to build friends and relationships.

Will information at the river water park in South Korea be in English?

Don’t expect things to be in English. This is South Korea and Korean is the national language. That means you will need to be flexible and willing to work through the language barrier that may exist. We say “may” because it’s surprising how many places we go in rural South Korea where staff can easily communicate in English.

To put it in perspective, imagine going to play in the water in rural Georgia. Would you expect them to be able to speak Korean and have marketing in Korean? Not really. However, some might begin offering Korean information if enough Korean tourists visit. That said, if only 5 Korean tourists come each year the business would likely just keep winging it. It’s the same in South Korea with English. That means you may want to be flexible and in the moment when it comes to communication.

Thankfully, in this modern age, we have smartphones with translation apps like Papago and Naver Translate which can translate photos and voice recordings. Such apps are not perfect but they get the job done. You will still need to emotionally navigate the stress of unclear communication. Such emotional labor can be tough if you have not had to deal with the ambiguity of language barriers before. There may be things you don’t understand about pricing, rules, etc. It can make you feel frustrated and angry.

These struggle with communication may feel uncomfortable. That’s normal and that’s ok. You also may feel unsure during different interactions throughout your first river water park experience. That’s normal and you will be ok. Navigating a new culture in a different language makes us all feel a lot of stress. Don’t let such feelings of discomfort hold you back from great fun! Once you have pushed through those hard feelings you will likely feel like a superhero and fall in love with the river water park experience.

What will everyone be wearing?

Dress to play! Folks at the river parks will often be wearing long-sleeved rash guards, swimming leggings, wetsuits, shorts, long-sleeved shirts, hats, etc. Under this protective gear is often a western-style swimsuit. They are there to play hard and be comfy! We highly recommend that you take a hat/swim hat and goggles to ANY water activity in South Korea. They are often required for different activities. It’s better safe than sorry. You can contact 1330 to learn to ask about clothing rules for the park.

What about food?

Bring snacks and food if you want to just keep playing. Usually, there will be Korean restaurants nearby, but if this is your first time bring a cooler just to make sure that you have what you need to feel safe, happy, and full. You can scope out the surrounding areas for the next time you return to play in the river water park. Also, some of these facilities also have a little cafe or snack area attached if you get desperate. You can also call 1330 to ask if the river water park has any food or beverage restrictions.

Are the river water parks family-friendly?

We recommend checking with each part you plan on visiting to check their rules for kids. Each park is managed by different people so they may have some unique rules. You can call 1330 to ask about a river water park’s rules regarding children.

What about transportation?

The river water parks usually exist in more remote areas. That means having your own transportation will be ideal. However, some may exist close enough to a subway or train station to take a taxi. We recommend using Naver or Kakao Maps to find the best transportation route for you. You can also call 1330 to find out if they can refer a transportation route.

Reservations recommended

We highly recommend making reservations for weekends or holidays. Water activities are HUGELY popular in South Korea on the weekends. You can use a bi-lingual concierge service to make reservations.

Try these river water parks in South Korea

Discover more about South Korea with the Pyeongtaek Travelers Facebook group

International residents living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea share their travel ideas every day in the Pyeongtaek Travelers Facebook group. We want to acknowledge this South of Seoul community group that provides an amazing support system to foreign residents traveling within South Korea and beyond! They share their time and information. Community turns wherever you are into a home.