Ever wondered what it would be like traveling in space? Or diving deep underwater alongside whales and turtles? How about being a hero fighting crime?

Ordinary people may not be able to experience these firsthand, but they can indirectly experience them through the emerging technology of virtual reality.

Just across from the headquarters of local PC gaming giant NCsoft, the Virtual Reality Play Zone inside the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, a tech start-up hub in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, offers visitors a glimpse into the future of content.

There, anyone can drop by at its small play zone, try out its VR headsets by Oculus, part of Facebook, and see short VR videos and games. There are other headsets on display including Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear VR at the Virtual Reality Play Zone.

With the rapid development of sensors that enable people to smell and feel, observers say VR or augmented reality seen in movies can soon become a reality.

“With those wearable sensors, people will soon be able to act like Neo in ‘The Matrix’ through the VR technology,” said an industry insider.

“If you converge VR with drone filmmaking, you can feel like Superman. The potential is limitless.”


Most well-known tech and content companies like Google, Samsung Electronics, NCsoft and Disney are experimenting with VR, with the same goal of enhancing the immersive experience. News media companies including the New York Times are integrating VR with journalism to connect newspaper readers to the online world. Disney’s Lucasfilm is testing VR with “Star Wars” characters such as C-3PO to enhance the experience of the space opera.

The technology is being used beyond the media and entertainment sector ― travel, sports, health, military and construction, to name a few.

However, there are not many places like the Center for Creative Economy and Innovation where visitors can experience VR videos for free in the Seoul-Gyeonggi metropolitan area.

CJ CGV offered moviegoers a two-minute VR experience of “The Himalayas” footage starring Hwang Jung-min at two of its theater chains in Yeouido and Yeongdeungpo for about two weeks last month. 

By Park Hyong-ki (hkp@heraldcorp.com)