Gyeongju World Temporarily Closes for Five Days for Comprehensive Safety Inspection Following Series of Accidents
Recent Ferris Wheel Gondola Fall and Roller Coaster Stoppage
Operations Suspended July 12-16; Reopening on the 17th
Gyeongju World, where a series of amusement ride accidents have recently occurred—including a roller coaster stoppage and a gondola falling from a Ferris wheel—will temporarily close for five days to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection of its facilities.
According to Yonhap News on July 12, Gyeongju World will suspend operations from today until July 16 to conduct a thorough safety inspection of all facilities in collaboration with external experts, as well as to provide safety training for its staff. Gyeongju World stated, "In light of recent facility issues, we have decided to temporarily close the park to prioritize customer safety by conducting a comprehensive safety inspection of all facilities with external specialists and providing staff safety training," adding, "We sincerely apologize to our customers."
Operations are scheduled to resume on July 17. Tickets purchased for dates during the closure period will be fully refunded at 100% of the purchase price with no fees. During the closure, Gyeongju World's water park, California Beach, will remain open as usual.
On July 9 at approximately 11:20 a.m., an empty gondola from the Ferris wheel "Time Rider" fell and collided consecutively with two other gondolas carrying five passengers. Unlike conventional Ferris wheels where cabins are fixed, Time Rider features gondolas that move along a track and was installed in June 2025. Two days later, on July 11 in the morning, the roller coaster "Draken," carrying 24 passengers, came to a stop for about 10 minutes when its safety device activated just before entering a steep drop. Safety personnel manually operated the ride, allowing all passengers to safely disembark. The city of Gyeongju is investigating the incident, based on Gyeongju World's explanation that the ride stopped due to the activation of a safety system.
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Previously, on November 9, 2024, during operation of the "Glinda's Magic Pumpkin" ride at Gyeongju World, the attraction also experienced a fall. This ride features a bus-shaped carriage carrying passengers, which rotates like a clock hand around an axis. At the time of the accident, the carriage tilted while ascending and fell downward. Although there were more than ten passengers onboard, no one was injured. In another incident on July 14, 2022, a roller coaster carrying 24 passengers stopped about 55 meters above the ground. With assistance from safety personnel, all riders were able to return to the ground after approximately 50 minutes.
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