Lion cub Laon / Courtesy of Samsung C&T Resort Group
At Everland, Korea’s sprawling theme park nestled just south of Seoul, quiet mornings are usually defined by the rustle of bamboo and the gentle chatter of early-bird families. But starting Wednesday, a distinctly feistier presence took center stage: a 2-month-old lion cub named Laon, making his public debut as the resort’s first newborn lion in eight years.
Born on June 5 in the park’s Safari World, the young male cub faced an uncertain start when his mother was unable to care for him. Zookeepers quickly stepped in, providing round-the-clock hand-rearing that involved late-night bottle feedings, meticulous health checks and constant warmth. Two months later, the pint-sized predator has flourished, tipping the scales at a healthy 5.5 kilograms and stepping out into the public eye at his new sanctuary enclosure with an appetite for exploration.
Laon’s arrival has already sparked a wave of digital affection across domestic online communities, where well-wishers have flooded message boards with hopes for his long and ferocious future. Adding a touch of local sporting lore to his story, the cub owes his name to professional baseball player Yang Chang-seop, a pitcher for the Samsung Lions. Visiting the park during the mid-season All-Star break, Yang christened the newborn "Laon" — sharing a moniker with the youngest mascot character of the baseball franchise — and voiced his wish for the cub to eventually rule the safari as a true king.
