Oftentimes you hear people talking about Starfield COEX Mall’s famous and beautiful Starfield Library, but did you know that COEX Mall also has its own aquarium? Opened in the year 2000, COEX Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in South Korea. It is home to 40,000 aquatic animals, holds 3,000 tons of water, and happens to be the largest shark habitat in all of Korea! Especially during the monsoon season here in Korea (mid to late June to early August), visiting the aquarium is the perfect opportunity to get away from the rain and the humidity!
The entrance ticket to the aquarium is ₩33,000 ($25), and I would say the experience is absolutely worth your money! You can also get a discount if you book online, so I recommend searching for that. The aquarium has a total of 16 zones from “Story of Korean Fish,” “Marine Mammal Village,” and “Ocean Kingdom (my personal favorite!)” that allow you to admire all of the different aquatic sea life!
Walking through the aquarium was truly an experience like no other. For the fish especially, it was so interesting to see the juxtaposition in the sizes of them as well. Some were as small as the size of my thumb, while others were larger than my body! There were so many animals that I had never gotten the chance to see up close before! From seals, otters, sea turtles, crocodiles, and even beavers! When it came to the sharks, I was in awe. I got to press my hands up against the glass and watch them swim by so closely.
Some additional highlights of COEX Aquarium:
- A Submarine Tunnel where you can see sea life swim around you on all sides! Have your camera ready, and make sure to take advantage of the times when people aren’t swarming the area!
- Doctor Fish Aquarium located in Zone 5, “Fish in Wonderland!” As evident by its name, this small tank features doctor fish, the ones that nibble off any of your dead skin! You’re welcome to put your hands and fingers in the tank and watch the fish get to work. Personally, I could only put in half a finger for 2 seconds. It tickles too much.
- The shows! When you arrive, be sure to look out for COEX Aquarium’s feeding schedule that tells you what zone you should visit to watch your favorite animals during their mealtime! There are also other performances put on throughout the day, such as a mermaid show that features real-life people swimming alongside some of the aquatic creatures in their tank!
I spent a total of about 2 hours in the aquarium, taking my time and exploring! Every time I turned a corner, I marveled at what I saw. I couldn’t believe all of this was located within a shopping mall! If you’re ever planning on visiting Seoul, coming to COEX Aquarium is a must!
