Geoje Sea World — Dolphin and Beluga Experience Park on Jisepohaean-ro

Experience Park Next to the Shipbuilding and Maritime Culture Center, 15 Jisepohaean-ro

Geoje Sea World is located at 15 Jisepohaean-ro, Irun-myeon, Geoje-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Geoje Sea World, the largest dolphin experience park in Korea, is situated next to the Shipbuilding and Maritime Culture Center in Jisepo, Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do. It consists of six experience pools with a total capacity of 11,400 tons, an ecology presentation hall, and other facilities. Distinct from conventional viewing aquariums, it has established itself as one of Geoje's representative experiential tourism destinations.

In particular, it is the only place in Korea operating an experience program with beluga whales. Through programs that allow visitors to meet and interact closely with dolphins and belugas, it offers not only hands-on experiences but also convergent marine education.

Opened in April 2014; Building Owned by Geoje City

Geoje Sea World, which opened in April 2014, has been the subject of controversy since the early days of its operation due to a series of animal deaths. The husbandry facilities were designed with international standards as a reference. Geoje Sea World's dolphin husbandry facilities were designed according to the “Standard Guidelines for the Husbandry of Bottlenose Dolphins” of the European Marine Mammal Association, and the facility differentiates itself from other aquariums and dolphin experience facilities in Korea through the specialization and advancement of dolphin care, training, and conservation.

One notable aspect of its operating structure is the ownership of the building. Geoje City, which owns the facility building, reportedly proposed that Geoje Sea World suspend operations due to controversies including dolphin deaths last year. In other words, Geoje Sea World is a private facility operating in a building owned by Geoje City under a lease agreement.

Six Experience Pools and Water- treatment Facilities with a Capacity of 11,100 Tons

Two figures have been confirmed regarding the facility's scale. According to Geoje City's tourism page, Geoje Sea World has husbandry facilities including experience pools, exhibition pools, quarantine pools, and a food preparation room, as well as advanced water-treatment filtration equipment for storing and filtering a total of 11,100 tons of seawater.

The Korea Tourism Organization's introduction page describes the facility as consisting of six experience pools totaling 11,400 tons, an ecology presentation hall, and other facilities, indicating that the two figures are presented separately as the filtration equipment capacity and the total pool capacity.

From Dolphin Presentations to Beluga Aqua Experiences

Several programs can be viewed with an admission ticket alone. Visitors can watch dolphins leap through the air with the wide-open sea of Geoje Island in the background. (Approximately 20 minutes.) After the Dolphin Presentation, visitors can take commemorative photos with the belugas (paid; personal photography is prohibited). While waiting for the show, visitors can see more than 30 species of rare reptiles.

Paid experience programs include the Dolphin Interaction Experience: 60,000 won · Beluga Interaction Experience: 70,000 won · Dolphin Kayak Experience: 80,000 won · Dolphin Aqua Experience: 120,000 won · Beluga Aqua Experience: 140,000 won. Other programs include Sea Trek, Korea's only underwater walking program with dolphins; Dolphin Swim, in which participants swim with dolphins; and Encounter, which allows participants to enter the water and interact with belugas and dolphins.

Reservation methods are divided into two categories. General admission can be paid for on-site or reserved online in advance, but experience programs are available by online advance reservation only > visitors must enter at least 30 minutes before the start. During peak season, preferred time slots fill up quickly. However, given that amendments to the Zoo and Aquarium Act have placed restrictions on experience programs such as touching animals, once a key source of revenue, it is safest to check the website to confirm whether the program is actually operating before making a reservation.

10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Adult Admission 29,000 Won

Operating hours and fees are consistent across several sources. Sea World opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. It is listed as open year-round, with operating hours from 10:00 to 18:00. Admission is 29,000 won for adults and 24,000 won for children under 13. Children under 24 months may enter free of charge when documentary proof is presented.

Contact and reservation details are: 0507-1400-1551 · website http://www.geojeseaworld.com. Parking is free. It has a designated accessible parking area, with two spaces at Sea World and ten spaces at the public parking lot of the Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum.

17 Whale Deaths and Lawsuit over Beluga Re-export — Geoje Sea World in 2026

The most important fact to learn before planning a visit is the facility's current situation. Since opening in 2014, a total of 17 cetaceans have died at Geoje Sea World, including a baby beluga that died on the 3rd. This case involved a baby beluga born on the 1st of the month and dying just three days later, on the 3rd.

Consideration of a suspension of operations began before June 2026. On the 5th, Geoje Sea World stated that it was considering suspending operations because facility-based experience events had become difficult to conduct due to recent amendments to the Zoo and Aquarium Act, and because the number of visitors participating in experiences had fallen sharply last year (as of July 2025). In 2026, Geoje Sea World, which had been considering suspending operations, attempted to send its three belugas to an aquarium in China. However, the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office rejected the application four times, and legal proceedings are ongoing.

The litigation schedule has also been confirmed in detail. Last March, Geoje Sea World filed an administrative lawsuit with the Changwon District Court against the Nakdong River Basin Environmental Office, which holds authority to approve beluga re-exports, seeking cancellation of the disposition rejecting its application for permission to re-export an internationally endangered species. The first hearing is scheduled for July 23, the following month.

The remaining population and regulatory basis are also worth noting. Since the facility opened in 2014, a total of 17 cetaceans have died there. Currently, nine cetaceans remain, including three belugas and six bottlenose dolphins. Belugas are internationally endangered species protected under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The environmental group Hotpinkdolphins is calling for Geoje Sea World to be closed and urging the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to develop practical alternatives to end the confinement of cetaceans. Those planning a visit from a distant location should call or check the website before departure to confirm that normal operations are continuing.

Car-Centered Access and Free Parking

No public transportation route information has been confirmed, and the available access information focuses on private vehicles and parking. The official page lists two accessible parking spaces at Sea World and ten spaces at the public parking lot of the Shipbuilding and Maritime Museum. It also confirms that parking is free.

In terms of accessibility, a ramp is installed along the main access route to the entrance, suggesting that visitors using strollers or wheelchairs can reach the entrance without significant difficulty. However, the availability of foreign-language guidance has not been separately confirmed.

4.3 Rating on the Reservation Platform, with Recurring Comments

According to the online reservation platform NOL, there are 94 reviews with a rating of 4.3. Review summaries repeatedly describe it as a good place to visit with children and highlight ecological experiences where visitors can observe dolphins and belugas. They also repeatedly mention that the facilities are clean and well maintained, and that the dolphin performances and explanations about belugas make for an informative experience.

Adult visitors have offered different opinions, however. In May 2026, one user wrote, “It was quite disappointing as a place for two adults to enjoy, but it is a place worth taking children.” Differences in satisfaction between visits with children and visits by adults alone appear consistently in the reviews.

20 Minutes by Car to Hakdong Heukjinju Mongdol Beach

Travel time that may be useful when planning nearby destinations has been confirmed. In the afternoon, visitors can travel from Sea World to Hakdong Heukjinju Mongdol Beach, a 20-minute drive away. The beach is one of Geoje's Nine Scenic Views, with black pebbles, known as mongdol, covering its 1.2-kilometer coastline.

It is commonly introduced as an itinerary combining a half-day at Sea World with a half-day on an Oedo cruise. In other words, the facility is sized so that visitors can see the exhibits and performances and visit the reptile learning center within half a day.

Not Recommended for These Visitors

Travelers concerned about animal welfare should learn about the facility's background before visiting. Environmental groups criticize the attempted transfer, pointing out that six bottlenose dolphins and three belugas are currently confined at Geoje Sea World, and that, unlike bottlenose dolphins, which are designated as marine-protected species in Korea, belugas have not yet been designated as protected species domestically, leaving an administrative loophole.

Because the operation itself is involved in legal disputes and the possibility of closure has been raised, it may be a low-priority choice for travelers with short itineraries who must select only one destination or for those uncomfortable with animal-based tourism. Conversely, reviews consistently confirm that it remains an option for families who want to see marine animals up close indoors with their children.