"A Child Came Out Crying"... Refund Chaos at 'Wongka' Event with 60,000 Won Admission Fee

Remodeled Warehouse-Like Appearance
Police Dispatched Amid Collective Refund Chaos

An overseas event venue themed around the movie 'Wonka,' which also became a hot topic domestically, has been embroiled in controversy. The venue, reminiscent of a warehouse rather than a theme park, sparked backlash from attendees due to its poor quality.

The controversial event was reportedly planned by a company in Scotland, UK. At the end of last month, the British BBC reported that at the 'Willy Wonka's Chocolate Experience' event held in Glasgow, Scotland, a group of visitors demanded refunds en masse, causing a commotion that required police intervention.

Inside the 'Wonka' event venue in Glasgow, Scotland [Image source=X]

The company hosting the event promoted it as a fantasy world themed around chocolate and candy. They highlighted locations inspired by Wonka as their sales points. Wonka is a box office hit not only in Korea but worldwide, so the influx of visitors was a natural progression. The admission fee was a hefty 35 pounds (about 59,000 KRW).

However, the actual experience venue was nothing more than a slightly renovated abandoned warehouse. Photos of the interior of the venue circulated on social media platforms such as X. The photos show a yellow bear figure placed alone on a gray floor and staff members standing awkwardly in poor costumes.

Employee standing quietly in the corner of the event venue [Photo by X]

Reviews from visitors followed. Harsh criticisms poured in, such as "Children entering the venue burst into tears," "It destroyed innocence," and "It's almost a scam." Ultimately, visitors expressed their anger collectively by demanding refunds, and the police were called due to the disturbance. The event was reportedly canceled just a few hours after opening, and the overwhelmed organizers decided to refund the full admission fee.

Meanwhile, Wonka is a prequel to the work 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' by British author Roald Dahl. It was produced by Warner Bros.' UK studio and has received favorable reviews, including a nomination at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards.

Domestically, it has also been doing well, recording a cumulative audience of 3.24 million since its release on January 31.