Two Iconic Rides at Lotte World Adventure to Close After Two Decades | Be Korea-savvy

Two Iconic Rides at Lotte World Adventure to Close After Two Decades


“Bungee Drop”  (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

“Bungee Drop” (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) —  Lotte World Adventure is set to retire two of its most iconic attractions, the “Bungee Drop” and the “Rotating Swing,” on February 2, 2025, concluding over 20 years of thrilling visitors.

The Bungee Drop, introduced in July 2000 with a 3.5 billion won investment, gained widespread popularity for its exhilarating free-fall experience. Initially located indoors beneath the park’s glass dome, the ride lifted passengers 32 meters high before plunging at speeds of up to 72 km/h, repeating the ascent and drop sequence three times.

In May 2006, the Bungee Drop was relocated to the outdoor Magic Island, where it contributed significantly to establishing the area as a hub for high-altitude thrill rides, alongside the Gyro Drop, Gyro Swing, and Gyro Spin.

“Rotating Swing” (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

“Rotating Swing” (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

The Rotating Swing debuted in September 2002 on Magic Island. Suspended from a 12-meter-tall mushroom-shaped structure, 32 leaf-shaped seats spun at speeds of 50 km/h, tilting dynamically with the movement of the central structure. Its mechanism allowed seats to rise up to 4.5 meters, delivering a sensation of flight and weightlessness.

Though differing in motion—one plummeting and the other spinning—both rides stood side-by-side as iconic symbols of Magic Island, creating countless joyful memories for visitors.

Throughout its 24 years of operation, the Bungee Drop completed approximately 1.03 million rides, covering an estimated 100,000 km—equivalent to stacking Mount Everest (8,848m) around 11,300 times. On average, it carried 860,000 riders annually, totaling around 20.64 million visitors.

The Rotating Swing operated for 22 years, completing about 795,000 rides and traveling a total of 1.51 million km—enough to travel to the moon and back twice. With an annual ridership of 990,000, it amassed approximately 21.78 million visitors.

Combined, these attractions entertained over 42.42 million guests, nearly matching the combined population of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province as of 2024.

“Merkking’s Carousel” (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

“Merkking’s Carousel” (Image courtesy of Lotte World)

In addition to these two rides, the family-friendly “Merkking’s Carousel” will also cease operations on February 2, 2025. To commemorate their closure, Lotte World Adventure will host the “Goodbye Magic Attractions” photo event from January 13 to February 2.

Participants who share nostalgic photos of the rides on Instagram with designated hashtags will have the chance to win prizes, including comprehensive park passes for five winners who upload photos of the Bungee Drop from its indoor days (2000-2006).

“The Bungee Drop and Rotating Swing have been central to Lotte World Adventure’s reputation for thrilling experiences,” said Kwon Oh-sang, CEO of Lotte World. “We are committed to delivering unforgettable adventures with new attractions as we continue to challenge the future.”

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>