A spectacular £5 billion Paramount Pictures theme park is set to open near Seoul, South Korea, after the studio’s much-hyped UK project was abandoned last year. The new Hwaseong International Theme Park, located just outside the South Korean capital, promises to bring the magic of Paramount’s greatest hits to life with attractions inspired by Nickelodeon, Top Gun, and Star Trek.
The announcement marks a striking turnaround for the studio, whose previous attempt to launch a major European park, the so-called “Dartford Disneyland”, collapsed earlier this year. That project, officially known as the London Resort, was scrapped in January 2025 after its parent company was forced into liquidation by the High Court.
Initially unveiled in 2012, the £2.5billion UK venture aimed to transform the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent into a world-class entertainment destination, complete with eight roller coasters, medieval castles, an Aztec pyramid, a 2,000-seat theatre, and a nightclub.
Developers claimed it would create 30,000 jobs and attract 12 million visitors annually, working with the BBC, ITV, and Paramount Pictures to deliver attractions based on Top Gear, Doctor Who, Paddington Bear, and Mission: Impossible.
But despite more than a decade of planning, the dream was undone by mounting debts and environmental setbacks.
The site’s designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Natural England proved the final blow, forcing developers to shut down the project after racking up over £100 million in losses.
Now, Paramount’s theme park ambitions are being reborn in Asia. Concept art for the Hwaseong project reveals a cinematic landscape dominated by a colossal mountain framed by an arch of stars, a striking nod to the studio’s famous logo.
Visitors will reportedly enter through this grand gateway before venturing into immersive themed zones, with rides ranging from a hot-air-balloon adventure to a cutting-edge inverted roller coaster.
The park’s first phase is expected to open in 2030, with further expansions planned through 2035.
While the UK may have lost its shot at hosting Europe’s answer to Disneyland, South Korea looks set to gain a world-class destination.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
