Ever since we moved to South Korea, I’ve heard of Uncle Brooks Zoo in Sosabeol – in fact, we accidentally happened on it during our first ever trip into Sosabeol (which was a WHOLE experience and a great introduction to driving in South Korea). On that first trip, we didn’t have time to stop by the zoo, but it got put on my list for later. And I don’t mean to brag, but it only took me about 10 months to actually get around to going. It might have taken me a while, but this place was absolutely worth the wait!
Uncle Brooks Indoor Zoo in Sosabeol
The last few weeks have been hot and humid (with occasional rain + a forecasted typhoon), so we’ve been venturing out to more indoor activities. And of course most adventures are more fun with friends (especially when Brandon is at work during the week) – so we invited our new friends to join us at the zoo and it was the best choice. E loves having some boys close to his age to play with and our girls also adore their three boys. They were the perfect buddies to have along with us for the adventure!
One thing to be aware of when visiting Uncle Brooks Zoo is the “haunted hallway” close to the entrance. After purchasing your wristbands (prices and other information at the bottom of this post), you’ll scan them and go through the front gates. To the left there is a Halloween-themed haunted hallway that you can go through to get to the rest of the zoo. We had been advised that it was possibly more graphic than we’d want our small children to experience, so we opted to take a right after entering the zoo to skip out on the whole horror show. (The little bit that we DID see seemed child-appropriate, but we decided to play it safe.)
One thing I thought was really cool about Uncle Brooks was just how close we could get to all of the animals. Sure, some of them were behind glass so we couldn’t get too close (and for good reason – those meerkats were SAVAGE), but there were so many animals that we could get right next to. Some of our favorites were the tortoises, the koi fish, and the crocodile. And of course, the birds that we could actually hold were a huge highlight as well.
We purchased some food from one of the multiple vending machines scattered throughout the zoo and the kids thought feeding the animals was the greatest thing ever. I recommend having Google Translate or Papago open and ready on your phone so you know what to feed each animal. Many of the animals had signs on their enclosures that specified what they were allowed to eat. They were only in Hangeul and they weren’t always easily understood by the pictures alone. Translating them before feeding the animals will ensure that the right food is going to the right animal.
The zoo winds around through many different rooms (all of which smelled surprisingly fine considering how many usually-smelly animals they had in them) and it’s pretty easy to follow. There are also a LOT more animals than I thought there would be. To name just a few: mini horse, deer, pigs, peacocks, chickens, raccoons, goats, alpacas, prairie dogs, chipmunks, guinea pigs, and so many more species of animals to see. Of course, this is an INDOOR zoo, so larger animals wouldn’t be possible. Still, the amount of animals (and how close we could get to them) was surprising and fun for all of us.
One of the last sections of the zoo houses a shallow pool that you can pay to kayak in for a modest fee of ₩2,000 per person. Because we only had two adults and eight children, we decided to skip out on the boats. Some of the kids were disappointed, but that all vanished when we found the ball pit and trampoline in the very last section of the zoo. The younger kids loved running around and playing in the jungle-gym area (while some of the older kids went back into the zoo section to look at some animals they missed) and Paige and I enjoyed sitting down, relaxing, and talking for a while.
In all, Uncle Brooks Zoo was an awesome adventure for the day (and a great option when you’re looking for something inside to do). It’s a LITTLE pricier than our usual adventures, but it was worth it to spend some time out of the heat. Whether you’re trying to beat the heat or escape the cold, Uncle Brooks Zoo in Sosabeol is worth a visit!
’til next time…
Ash
How to visit Uncle Brooks Zoo
Directions + Parking: Located only about 15 minutes from Camp Humphreys, pasting 경기 평택시 비전5로 10 센트럴돔 3층 엉클브룩스쥬 into Naver it will take you to a parking garage entrance right underneath the zoo (or, for extra convenience, this link will take you to Naver and get you there too). Before you leave your car, take a picture of the license plate because Uncle Brooks Zoo WILL validate your parking for up to 3 hours. From the parking garage, hop on an elevator and head to the 3rd floor of the complex. There’s a little bit of winding around and mild confusion, but follow the signs and you’ll find the zoo entrance just fine. (It was made to look like a cave entrance and says “Uncle Brooks Zoo” in huge letters – you can’t miss it!)
*Cost:
Toddlers (19-36 months old) – ₩7,900
Adults & Kids older than 36 months – ₩16,000
Under 18 months – FREE
*Military discount offered with US military ID.
Hours:
CLOSED ON TUESDAYS
Mondays
10:30am – 7:00pm
Wednesdays – Fridays
10:30am – 7:00pm
Saturdays – Sundays
10:30am – 8:00pm
Amenities: There are restrooms located on the third floor of the mall complex that houses Uncle Brooks Zoo. And while THERE ARE NO RESTROOMS IN THE ZOO itself, there are multiple exits throughout the zoo that you can leave from to get to the bathrooms. Afterwards, just go through any of the many entrances and scan your wristband to get back in. Near the end of the zoo loop, there is a snack stand, gift shop, and vending machines to purchase drinks.
Tips for visiting with kids: The zoo itself isn’t huge, and even the smallest child (age 2) was able to walk the whole thing easily. Still, the zoo is stroller friendly for those who have really little ones.
Look for more to do in Sosabeol? Check out these great places!
Loxid Gateau Café (directions at the bottom of linked post)
