"Ride Pink Bean into the Sky"... A Game Village Recreated at Lotte World [Weekend Leisure]

The popular game IP "MapleStory" has arrived on Magic Island, the "magical island" of Lotte World. The newly opened area, called the "Maple Island Zone," debuted on the 3rd. MapleStory, launched by Nexon in 2003, is one of Korea’s signature content franchises, loved for its charming characters and fairy-tale graphics. Partnering with Nexon, Lotte World boldly removed two existing popular rides, the swing carousel and bungee drop, and introduced three new attractions—Stone Express, Eos Tower, and Arcana Ride—along with a renewed version of Gyro Spin. On April 7, when the cherry blossoms around Seokchon Lake were in full bloom, we visited the Maple Island Zone in person.


■ Three new attractions including "Eos Tower" now open
As soon as we stepped onto Magic Island, surrounded by Seokchon Lake, familiar in-game scenery unfolded in real life. The roughly 2,000-square-meter area is designed to look as if iconic in-game regions—Henesys, Arcana, the Mysterious Forest, and Ludibrium—have been lifted straight from the game and set down in the park. The vivid colors and adorable characters blend together so well that it almost feels like walking into the game itself.
The first ride we tried was "Stone Express," a 16-seat track-based roller coaster. The boarding area, themed after Arcana, the Mysterious Forest, immediately draws the eye with its dreamy woodland atmosphere. As soon as we climbed into the car, shaped like a cute "Stone Spirit," Stone Express shot off along the track faster than expected. The course is a bit short, which leaves you wanting more, but the strong impact gives the ride a surprising charm.
Directly across from it, "Arcana Ride" offers a completely different kind of fun. This ride circles around a central "Spirit Tree" that symbolizes the mysterious forest, rotating repeatedly. The pastel-toned purple space makes it perfect for leisurely taking in the surroundings. However, when the ride hits its two rotation segments, the cars accelerate sharply, so riders need to hold on tight. Various spirit characters are placed around the ride as well, making it an ideal spot for commemorative photos.
"Eos Tower," representing Ludibrium, the "Toy Kingdom," looks like a scaled-down version of Lotte World’s signature 70-meter Gyro Drop. Centered on a 12-meter tower that spins as it rises and falls, the ride delivers a subtle but satisfying thrill through repeated ascents, descents, and rotations. Yet, as the height difference suggests, Eos Tower is closer to a family-friendly drop ride. At the top of the tower sits Pink Bean, one of MapleStory’s boss monsters, adding an extra dose of cuteness.


The revamped "Gyro Spin," now themed around Pink Bean, also offers a distinct kind of excitement. This ride features a giant circular platform that spins 360 degrees while repeatedly rising and falling at speeds of up to 70 km/h, making it the most thrilling of the newly introduced attractions. When the platform carrying riders shoots up to a height of about 20 meters and then drops, the surrounding scenery—including Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake—unfolds from completely new angles, creating a striking visual experience.
The Maple Island Zone offers much more than just rides. At "Character Square" in front of the main gate, statues of popular characters such as Pink Bean, Yeti, and the Stone Spirit draw crowds of visitors eager to take photos. Behind Eos Tower, a large statue of Papulatus, the clock-tower monster that controls time, serves as another eye-catching photo spot.


■ "MapleStory in Lotte World" runs through June 14
Gift shops and food and beverage outlets themed around the MapleStory IP were packed with people. Their shelves were filled with exclusive merchandise available only at Lotte World Adventure, including the "Orange Mushroom Plush Hat," a must-have item for social media photos, and the "Eos Tower Drink Bottle," modeled after Eos Tower itself.
Lee Hae-yeol, Head of Marketing at Lotte World, who oversaw this collaboration, said, "The generation that once enjoyed MapleStory has now become parents who visit Lotte World with their children," adding, "The number of visitors last weekend, when the Maple Island Zone opened, increased by 20% compared to the previous week."
Meanwhile, Lotte World Adventure is also holding a spring festival under the title "MapleStory in Lotte World." Visitors can create their own MapleStory characters and enjoy a parade and 3D mapping show featuring MapleStory-themed units. The festival runs through June 14.
jsm64@fnnews.com Jung Soon-min Reporter