Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

World-famous wax figures displayed at COEX

One tourist attraction that should not be missed in cities like New York, London, Amsterdam or Hong Kong is a wax museum.

Now you have the opportunity in Seoul as more than 80 wax figures of celebrities from the world's largest Movieland Wax Museum and 20 figures from Japanese artisan Satoru Mazusaki are being displayed at the Convention and Exhibition Center in Samseong-dong.

As a preview of the exhibition which opened yesterday, the wax figure of Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones has been displayed since Dec. 9 in front of Megabox Cineplex to stimulate public curiosity about the wax museum.

The exhibition "World Wax Museum" at COEX, one of the busiest and largest multifaceted spaces, is expected to draw many children and family members as the winter vacation is about to begin soon.

Including Catherine Zeta Jones, the exhibition will be displaying a total of 115 international and local stars from screen, stage and television and historical figures including scientists and politicians. Wax film stars show visitors the history of the film industry as well as themselves in luxurious accessories and costumes; Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable from the old classic "Gone With the Wind", Omar Sharif from the 1965 romance "Doctor Zhivago", Jennifer Lopez featured in her 2002 "Maid in Manhattan" attire and Keanu Reeves from 1999 "The Matrix".

The wax figures on display are decorated with costumes donated by the actors and musicians themselves or by the movie studios, said Jeong Won-jik, the planning manager of the organizing company, Miracle Sports and Entertain ment.

Especially, visitors the wax figures of Hollywood star Tom Cruise and Orlando Bloom from the "Lord of the Rings" seem more real because they have a heart device beating inside the chest.

"They will appear to be more lifelike than ever before", said Jeong.

Korean Wave pop idol Rain, Boa and actor Jang Dong-gun are among the figures also displayed in the show.

The exhibition can be also educational since historical figures such as scientists Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and painter Pablo Picasso are on display. Political figures include former South Korean Presidents Park Chung-hee and Kim Dae-jung.

Making a realistic figure is entirely up to the artist's fine skill and intuition. One wax figure can cost as much as 150 million won ('150,000) and it takes about six months to complete a full figure, according to Jeong.

The World Wax Museum continues to be held at Prefunction Area on the first floor of COEX until the end of March next year. Admission is 16,000 won for adults, 12,000 won for high and middle school students and 10,000 won for elementary students and younger. Open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For tickets, visit http://www.ticketlink.co.kr . For more information, call (02) 562-8153.

By Kim Yoon-mi

Advertisement

❎ Try Ad-free