Reading Aqua Planet Ilsan through a 2-hour route with walruses

Ilsan’s Indoor Aquarium Featuring Korea’s Only Walrus

Aqua Planet Ilsan is an aquarium located at 282 Hallyu World-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do. Its official website introduces the facility as the largest aquarium in the Seoul metropolitan area and the only facility in Korea that houses walruses.

The facility operates “The Aqua” and “The Jungle” as indoor spaces, and “The Sky Farm” as an outdoor space. This means that the main viewing areas can be enjoyed even on rainy or cold days, but if you plan to visit The Sky Farm as well, you should consider the weather and season.

Why the Address Is 282 Hallyu World-ro and How the Exhibits Are Arranged Today

The facility’s official materials do not provide its opening year or total area. Therefore, rather than asserting a specific year or founder, it is more accurate to understand the facility based on the spaces currently used by visitors.

The current exhibits are divided into the indoor “The Aqua” and “The Jungle,” and the outdoor “The Sky Farm,” with ecology presentations, performances, and feeding programs available. Performances and ecology presentations do not incur additional charges, while feeding experiences require a separate activity fee, so you should budget separately for simple admission and activity programs.

Open from 10:00 to 18:00, with Admission Closing at 17:00

As of 2026, Aqua Planet Ilsan is open year-round, with operating hours from 10:00 to 18:00 on both weekdays and weekends. The ticket office is also open from 10:00 to 17:00, and ticket sales and admission close at 17:00, so it is safer to avoid arriving just before 17:00.

Official information explains that closing procedures begin one hour before the actual closing time. The total recommended viewing time is approximately two hours, so morning admission or admission before 15:00 in the afternoon allows more time to see both the exhibits and programs.

• Dahuk Insect & Reptile Special Exhibition: Basement 1, weekdays 11:00–18:00, admission closes at 17:00
• Dahuk Insect & Reptile Special Exhibition: weekends and public holidays 11:00–18:00, admission closes at 17:30
• Aqua Café: 2nd-floor main tank, 10:00–17:00
• Sky Farm: 5th floor, 10:00–17:30; hay experience available until 17:00
• Food court: 11:00–18:30, last order at 18:00

Distinguishing the Standard Price of 39,000 Won from the Detailed Fee Schedule

As of 2026, the main information on the official website lists the standard Aqua Planet admission price as 39,000 won. The detailed English fee schedule lists the individual adult Aqua Planet admission fee as 27,000 won and the individual adult weekday season pass as 23,000 won, so you should distinguish the applicable category according to your visit date and selected product.

The listed fee for individual children and seniors is 25,000 won, while the weekday season pass costs 21,000 won. Children under 36 months may enter free of charge, but a health insurance card or birth certificate must be presented. Tickets purchased on site are valid only on the day of purchase, and gift certificates cannot be used.

• Individual adult unlimited pass: 15,000 won
• Individual child/senior unlimited pass: 14,000 won
• Group requirement: at least 20 people
• Group adult admission: 24,000 won
• Weekend annual pass: 100,000 won
• Weekday annual pass: 70,000 won
• Package weekend annual pass: 120,000 won
• Package weekday annual pass: 90,000 won

15 Minutes from Exit 2 of Juyeop Station, with Bus Connections from the Airports

International travelers can set Juyeop Station on Seoul Subway Line 3 as their destination. Walk straight for approximately 15 minutes from Exit 2 of Juyeop Station, pass One Mount, cross the pedestrian overpass, and continue to the side of the Singing Fountain to reach Aqua Planet Ilsan.

From Gimpo Airport, the recommended route is to take local bus 56 or 150 and get off at Juyeop Station. From Incheon Airport, take airport bus 3300, get off at Juyeop Station, and then walk toward the side of the Singing Fountain.

When driving from Seoul, the recommended route is via Gangbyeonbuk-ro and Jayuro before entering through Kintex IC. From the Uijeongbu direction, the route passes through the Seoul Ring Expressway, Jayuro, and Kintex IC.

Three Hours of Free Parking and Overage Fees Requiring Card Payment

Aqua Planet visitors can use the parking lot free of charge for three hours, but parking validation is required. Using an auxiliary facility or gift shop provides one additional free hour, for a maximum of four free hours.

After the free period, a fee of 500 won per 10 minutes is charged, and excess parking fees must be paid by card. Even visitors who do not enter Aqua Planet are charged 500 won per 10 minutes, while large buses cost 10,000 won per hour.

For visitors arriving by car, the key point is to remember to validate parking after entering. The address is 282 Hallyu World-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do (2606-1 Daehwa-dong), and the contact number is 1833-7001.

From Jellyfish Lighting to Crowding in Front of Tanks: Easily Missed Details

A 2025 visitor review states that viewing with a nine-month-old infant took approximately one to one and a half hours, and mentions that nursing and diaper-changing rooms were available. The same review describes the changing lights in the jellyfish zone as an element that attracted young visitors’ attention.

Other reviews note that it can be difficult to approach the tanks when the facility is crowded, leading to the opinion that opening time or weekday afternoons are relatively better if you want to see the tanks up close. Since most of the facility is indoors, it is less affected by the weather, but remember separately that The Sky Farm is outdoors.

Flash Photography Is Prohibited, but Ordinary Commemorative Photos Are Allowed

Ordinary visitors may take commemorative photos for personal household use. However, flash photography is prohibited for the safety of the animals, and prior permission is required to take photos or videos for commercial or public purposes.

Animals are not allowed inside in order to protect the exhibited animals and maintain the viewing environment. Travelers moving with pets should consider this restriction first. The official materials do not confirm whether English guidance or audio guides are available, nor do they provide a complete list of restricted items.

Wheelchairs Are Free; Strollers Are Rented on the 2nd Floor by Card

Wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge at the 1st-floor ticket office, with no time limit. Strollers can be rented for 2,000 won at the Aqua Planet entrance on the 2nd floor, with a basic usage period of four hours.

An additional 1,000 won is charged for stroller use exceeding 30 minutes beyond the allotted period, and the rental fee can be paid by card only. Rented wheelchairs and strollers may be used only inside the Aqua Planet building.

Inside the viewing area, elevators are available beside the main tank on the 2nd floor and beside the touch pool on the 3rd floor. Lockers are located in front of the elevator on the 1st floor and cost 1,500 won for a small locker and 2,000 won for a large locker. Losing the key incurs a 10,000-won loss fee.

A Two-Hour Viewing Route for First-Time Visitors

For a first visit, a practical route is to complete ticketing and storage on the 1st floor, then proceed to the 2nd-floor main tank and The Aqua, followed by the 3rd-floor touch pool and The Jungle. If operating hours allow, place The Sky Farm on the 5th floor last. The officially recommended viewing time is approximately two hours.

Ecology presentations and performances can be viewed after admission without an additional fee, but specific times by date were not available in this guide. Feeding experiences require a separate activity fee, so travelers who want only free programs and those who want to participate in activities should set different budgets.

The official website is https://www.aquaplanet.co.kr/ilsan/index.do, and inquiries about the address, transportation, and parking can be made at 1833-7001. Admission closes at 17:00, and the year-round operating schedule makes the aquarium easy to include in a short Goyang itinerary.