Cheongna eel buffet, kids 47 months and under free: Songrimbok

We're a family on Yeongjong Island raising a dragon-year baby :) I post day-trip ideas around Incheon Yeongjong and Cheongna on Instagram, and when I put the Cheongna Fantasy Forest playground on my story, I got a ton of questions. It's only 10–15 minutes by car from Hanul-dosi (Skytown)! The Fantasy Forest playground also runs a water play area every summer. I'll share parking, handy tips, and a place to pair it with: Songrimbok, the all-you-can-eat eel restaurant we went to (a revisit!).

How long does it take from Yeongjong Island to Cheongna Lake Park?

From our home in Yeongjong Skytown, Cheongna Lake Park takes 11 minutes by car. Since the Cheongna Sky Bridge (the former Yeonryuk Bridge) opened, Cheongna feels like part of our everyday area. It's even closer than Unseo, which is on the same island, and closer than going to the far end of Skytown itself.

It has a different charm from Songdo Central Park, so we keep coming back to Cheongna Lake Park :) The Fantasy Forest playground in particular is so good. It's not just a playground: there are nice paths for scooters, bikes and inline skates, and well-kept walking paths where you can bring your dog.

Where to park for the Cheongna Fantasy Forest playground

For the Fantasy Forest playground in Cheongna Lake Park, park in Parking Lot 4, which is right beside it. We went on a weekend and Lot 4 was open. That may vary from day to day, though!

Lots of people set up tents, mats and chairs. There are apartment complexes nearby, so people pick up food, and many had brought lunch boxes or fruit. There's a restroom too, so that was convenient.

As the name Lot 4 suggests, Cheongna Lake Park has about four parking lots. The Fantasy Forest playground is right next to Lot 4, but if you want to see the music fountain, Lot 3 is a bit closer. The fountain's song list is below! They picked music that everyone from kids to grandparents would enjoy.

When does the Fantasy Forest playground water play area open?

The schedule for the Cheongna Fantasy Forest water play area and the Yeongjong Seaside Park water play area is July 11 to August 23, 2026, 10:00–17:00 (50 minutes of operation, then a 10-minute break). They're closed on Mondays and suspended when it rains.

The grassy field is quite big too, so even if kids tumble while playing ball, you worry less about scraped knees. For kids, a place to run around safely in nature is plenty, more than any flashy facilities.

Cheongna Fantasy Forest vs. Yeongjong Seaside Park

Both Fantasy Forest and Seaside Park have playgrounds. Cheongna Fantasy Forest is big and sits together with the lake park, while Yeongjong Seaside Park lets you see the sea from inside the park (not from the playground itself). Both seem fine for mats and tents, and I'll put together the exact schedule, timetable and whether delivery food is allowed before the July 11 opening.

Eel buffet near the Fantasy Forest playground: Songrimbok Jangeo Cheongna Direct Branch

Songrimbok Cheongna Direct Branch is an all-you-can-eat freshwater eel restaurant close enough to the Fantasy Forest playground to walk. This was a revisit, and kids up to 47 months eat free.

All-you-can-eat eel gets greasy after a while, of course! At Songrimbok, the white kimchi, ginger, and green onion and scallion kimchi were great.

What can kids eat at Songrimbok eel buffet?

Songrimbok Cheongna Direct Branch has added nurungji (scorched rice) and steamed egg, which makes feeding a kid much easier. We'd been several times before, but after a while away, there were a few more side dishes.

Anyone who has raised kids knows that nurungji and steamed egg are among the safest, easiest things kids will eat at a restaurant. So I was really happy to see them.

We had packed rice balls at home and fed those with the eel, but if you haven't prepared anything, nurungji works well with it too. It's warm and wholesome, and most kids love it. Next time we can go empty-handed.

Until what age do kids eat free at Songrimbok?

Best of all, Songrimbok is free up to 47 months, not just under 36 months.

Most restaurants, especially buffets and all-you-can-eat places, use 36 months as the cutoff, so Songrimbok's rule is very generous. This time we went on a weekend and nap time awkwardly overlapped. Those eyes are so sleepy...

Is Cheongna Lake Park plus Songrimbok a good family day out?

Near Cheongna Lake Park there are many places for families with kids, like water play areas and libraries, so I'd suggest pairing them with Songrimbok for a family outing. The weather has been so lovely lately, so we want to enjoy it as much as we can before the heat peaks.

Considering today's dining-out prices, I felt it's an even more satisfying place when you visit as a family. The restaurant was kept clean and the staff were friendly. They responded right away when we needed something and cleared the table quickly, so we were comfortable throughout the meal.