First Pororo Park in SE Asia opens at Marina Square

SINGAPORE - The latest Korean wave to hit Singapore has arrived, and in a big way too - 11,000 square feet to be exact.

More infectious than any K-pop song is Pororo the Little Penguin and his famous animal friends, who are so well-loved in Korea that parents have dubbed the popular penguin character the "president of kids".

Pororo has fans all over the world, and many flock to Seoul every year to visit the Pororo Park, a large indoor playground for children one to nine years old.

The good news is that Singapore fans of the inquisitive penguin will no longer have to wait for a vacation to Korea as creators of the cartoon have brought Pororo Park to Singapore.

Located in the new retail wing at Marina Square, Pororo Park Singapore is the first character-themed indoor playground in Singapore, and only the fourth Pororo Park to be built outside of South Korea. The other three Pororo Parks outside of South Korea are all located in China.

The indoor playground is nothing short of a wonderland for children, whether or not they have seen the award-winning cartoon before. The experience starts off with a train ride into an 'ice cave' as Pororo's helpers entertain fascinated children along the way. After the theme ride, there is an array of other activities for kids to choose from.

Highlights of the park include the Shark Ball Pool, the Pororo House - a replica of Pororo's House in the cartoon, and TongTong's Little Theatre where character meet-and-greets and sing-along shows are put on.

But the most popular attraction in the park is Poby's Jungle Gym, where children are encouraged to climb on all fours and make their way through mini-obstacles to find their way out and down the slide. The kids absolutely loved this attraction during the media preview of the playground, with many challenging themselves to get past slippery slopes and small passageways so they could whizz down the slide over and over again.

An added bonus is that parents with older kids can let their children roam free in the park while they take a break at the 60-seater Loopy's Cafe, which also offers free Wi-Fi for those who need to stay connected.

Pororo Park Singapore is located at #02-29 Marina Square, and is open daily from 10:30am to 8pm, and 10:30am to 9pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

Each ticket for children above two years old costs $33.50, and $24.50 for kids below two. Up to two adults can accompany each child into the park at a price of $6 each. Annual and lifetime membership packages are also available for those who wish to visit the park more regularly.

ljessica@sph.com.sg