After a year and three months in Korea, it’s a bit surprising that the COEX Aquarium wasn’t been on my list of places to go. It’s easy to get to and quite popular with the locals (especially on a rainy Sunday afternoon), so, uh, sure – why not?

A Latticed Butterflyfish – one of several species in the lobby before even going into the aquarium.

A representative rice paddy – complete with more than just rice. Don’t forget about the tadpoles, snails, killifish, dropworts, and lots of micro-organisms.

From here, my girlfriend and I entered a portion of the aquarium that could be better described as an art gallery:

Yes, you’re seeing that right – a phone booth filled with water and a scuba diver, and fish.

While I’m not precisely sure what the point of putting fish in a toilet was, but it remind the viewer that fish can live in many more places than a bowl or tank.

Fish in a TV or fish on a TV? The lower right corner is the former, while the other displays are the latter.

The computer case held real fish, while the computer screen showed a fish screensaver. The keyboard and mouse are glued in place and not connected to the computer, but it’s still a great illusion.

Look down from the top floor to the larger area. The walls and ceiling were nicely painted to reflect the larger scene – the water wasn’t the only thing that was nice to look at.

Not sure how monkeys fit into the aquarium scene, but ok…

Kids digging in dirt? Sure, why not? A nearby sign encouraged kids to find the worms in the dirt.

Some very sparkly fish – pretty.

Just above the electric eel display – while I can’t read the Korean, the picture seems obvious enough; touch the animal and you might get shocked.

Yes, folks, you’re seeing this right – a two-headed turtle.

A Red Tailed Catfish – and one of several larger fish in the sea.

A beaver? Hmm…. OK, so they make dams in the water, but still… The aquarium is more like a zoo than just about fish – any animal with a significant life in or around the water seems to be fair game.

A kids section in the aquarium – not only brightly colored, but offering fish tanks at the child’s eye level.

Pull his tongue out! Just don’t try to do it on an actual animal.

Great photo ops in the middle of the room.

Golden Trevallys – they look like tiger fish.

A sting ray, dancing along the edge of the tank.

A ciliated threadfish – interesting because of their steel-colored outside.

Sardines, making a ‘fish-ball’ to counter the large predators of the oceans. Not pictured are the sharks in a nearby tank – no telling whether the sardines can see the sharks and vice versa – but the sardines swirled around all the same.

A wonderful coral selection, along with some of the fish that live nearby.

A ‘touch-and-feel’ opportunity for kids to see starfish up close and personal.

Sharks on the loose in one of the largest tanks in the building.

Mmmm, dinner… I mean, crab.

Penguins – just off to the side is a human cleaning and feeding the flock.

Beanie Babies? I had no idea they still made these – fairly commonly available in Korea in various gift shops.

The souvenir shop – cheap if it was made in Korea, expensive if it was imported from elsewhere.

Just like the machines in America, insert coins and turn the handle to create a unique souvenir. Unlike America, one doesn’t have to insert a penny, since they aren’t exactly easy to find in Korea. Instead, it uses a penny-like blank to create your souvenir.

The aquarium is well-built, has plenty to offer, and is even stroller / handicapped accessible for the vast majority of the displays. While it’s a bit expensive (15,500 for adults, 13,000 for teens, and 10,000 for children), it’s certainly one of those places worth going to at least once during your time in Korea.

Directions to COEX Aquarium: Take line 2 of the Seoul subway system to the Samseong station. Use exit 6 to connect to the COEX mall, then follow the signs, walking through the mall to the aquarium. Handicapped and stroller accessible, thanks to elevators.