Hello!

I'm 도로나기, a PEAKer.

May is Family Month here in Korea.

And Children's Day, May 5, is just around the corner.

If adults are expected to work... ㅠㅠ

then surely children should get to play, right? Play away... Play to your heart's content...

According to a survey of children in South Korea,

42.9% of children want to play.

But only 18.6% actually do... Isn't that far too few?

Children in OECD countries spend an average of 2 hours and 30 minutes a day playing.

But the daily average for children in South Korea? Just 1 hour and 32 minutes.

That's reportedly among the lowest in the OECD.

South Korea always seems to end up near the bottom of the OECD rankings where it hurts, doesn't it...ㅠ

So!

Nexon's MapleStory

has opened, at Children's Grand Park,

to promote children's right to play, a playground created with children themselves—

a MapleStory public playground.

Even the name has a sweet, friendly feel: Maple Leaf Playground No. 3.

I wondered, “Why No. 3?” It turns out there's already a No. 1 and a No. 2.

No. 1 is in Seongnam, and No. 2 is in Uijeongbu.

Nexon has been renovating and reopening existing public playgrounds as a way to give back to the community.

Maple Leaf Playground No. 3 opened on April 18, so it's already been open for over 2 weeks.

So I went to see for myself how much fun children could have there. (With Peroro along for the trip!)

If you live in Seoul, I imagine you've been to Children's Grand Park at least once.

My memory is a little hazy, but I think I went once as a child, too.

Maple Leaf Playground No. 3 is near the center of the park.

Look for the red circle on the map—location 39.

I made my way there from the back entrance.

The lovely weather had brought plenty of people out.

Maple Leaf Playground No. 3 Photo Spot

If you approach Maple Leaf Playground No. 3 from the back entrance, the photo spot is the first thing you'll see.

MapleStory's iconic Pink Bean, Orange Mushroom, and Rock Spirit are there to welcome you.

I took a photo with Peroro, the most popular character from Nexon's fellow title Blue Archive.

Closer to the main entrance, you'll find the Maple Leaf Playground emblem.

This was another lovely spot for a photo to remember the visit.

Playground Guide Map

Playground information and safety rules are posted here.

And, most importantly, there's a certificate confirming that the equipment passed its installation inspection.

After all, the equipment shouldn't put children at risk of injury, right?

Safety is always the No. 1 rule.

Safety first!

Orange Mushroom World

Be sure to read the safety rules before playing to help avoid injuries.

You'll find mushroom stepping stones and trampolines here.

I tried bouncing on one myself when there weren't any children around.

A trampoline that can hold an adult's weight, too? It gets my approval.

How many years had it been since I'd been on a trampoline...? It was fun...

Rock Spirit World

With a wobbly bridge, climbing equipment, an arch to cross, and more, this area offers a little thrill.

I especially liked the ground—was it urethane? The springy material felt lovely and soft underfoot.

This area is made for children, so the equipment was too small for an adult like me. I sat this one out,

but seeing the children having fun made me happy, too.

Pink Bean World

And now, the much-awaited Pink Bean World!

See the musical notes on the equipment? Maybe that's why there was background music playing in the playground.

What's a playground without slides? With 4 slides in total, fun is guaranteed.

Pink Bean World was spacious, too, with what looked like plenty of room for lots of children to run around and play.

It also looked perfect for a game of tag.

Just remember to be extra careful when playing tag.

Next to Pink Bean World, there was a heart-collecting game that looked a bit like a game of claiming territory.

The playground itself isn't huge, but with little game elements tucked here and there, it packs in plenty to do.

Maple Leaf Rest Area

Children's Grand Park isn't the neighborhood playground just outside your door, so it's not easy for children to visit on their own, is it?

That's why there's a rest area for the grown-up kids—the parents and guardians.

It sits in the middle of Maple Leaf Playground, and it was reassuring to have a clear view of the children playing on either side.

There's a convenience store right nearby, too, so it looked like a handy place for children to take a break from playing and have a drink or a quick snack.

These days, playgrounds everywhere are replacing sand with rubber,

but I saw on the news that this can actually lead to more injuries and scrapes, and make it harder for children to build immunity.

Maple Leaf Playground No. 3 has both sand and urethane flooring, so it seems to strike a good balance between health and fun.

When I visited on April 30,

construction was in full swing at Children's Grand Park

for the Seoul Children's Garden Festival, which they said would also take place on Children's Day, May 5.

Why not visit Children's Grand Park to enjoy the festival, explore the various children's play areas,

and stop by Maple Leaf Playground No. 3, too?

For the first time in a while, I felt like a child again.

Thanks for reading.