SEOUL, Dec 1 — South Korea is set to become home to the eighth Legoland theme park in the franchise, to be built on an island about an hour away from Seoul.

European entertainment company Merlin Entertainments, which runs 100 attractions across 22 countries, announced details of the project, saying that the park will be located on the island of Jung-do in Chuncheon, about an hour’s drive from Seoul.

The theme park is expected to open in 2017.

According to Merlin Entertainments, South Korea has become one of Lego Group’s largest markets in Asia, since the toy was first introduced in 1984.

There are currently six Legolands located in the US, Malaysia, Germany, Denmark and the UK, with plans to open a new theme park globally every two to three years.

Legoland Dubai is also set to open in 2016. — AFP-Relaxnews