An artwork themed after iconic Japanese horror manga artist Junji Ito is shown during the "Junji Ito Horror House" at LC Tower DEUX in Hongdae, Seoul. Courtesy of Waysbe

Is the summer heat getting unbearable, making you crave a thrill that chills you to the bone?

Here are some horror experiences — immersive and terrifyingly real — that will make you beat the heat for a while. Forget horror movies and be prepared to confront your deepest fears in a mysterious and nail-biting adventure that will leave you breathless.

Junji Ito's 'Horror House'

Junji Ito's original drawing is on display during the "Junji Ito Horror House" at LC Tower DEUX in Hongdae, Seoul, June 27. Korea Times photo by Park Jin-hai

"Please press the emergency stop button if you wish to exit (during the tour)," announces the guide before entering the experience zone, as screams echo from the shadows just beyond the entrance.

The Japanese horror manga artist's immersive exhibition "Junji Ito Horror House" begins with visitors forming a single line, each holding onto a rope, as they step into the artwork. With candles flickering in front of them, Junji Ito's most popular manga protagonist, Tomie, an immortal femme fatale, whispers, "I want you to die for me."

Clutching the rope for guidance and comfort, groups of five or six visitors venture into the pitch-black exhibition hall, embarking on a chilling maze exploration.

The exhibition features spaces themed after various manga, including "The Long Hair in the Attic," "The Long Dream," "The Story of the Mysterious Tunnel," "Tomie's Photos," "Groaning Drain Pipes," "Soichi's Beloved Pet" and "The Hanging Balloons."

Visitors walk through a room filled with books that touch their toes, and when they open the door to a darkroom filled with red light, they feel as if they have stepped into the middle of one of Ito's manga.

A visitor poses at a photo zone of the "Junji Ito Horror House" exhibition at LC Tower DEUX in Hongdae, Seoul, June 27. Korea Times photo by Park Jin-hai

Seo Ye-jin, 19, a big Ito fan since high school, said she likes Ito's Uzumaki series, Soichi and the Tomie series the most.

"The dubbing of 'Tomie' was especially good. The voice actor sounded exactly like their Japanese counterpart — same tone, pitch, even the way they spoke. It was like they pulled out all the stops to capture every detail," Seo said.

"Just as I watch horror movies, I think visual stimulation is the biggest appeal of this experience. It's like a rush of dopamine. It's like enjoying spicy food. I seem to like the feeling of being hunched up and scared."

During the 15-minute experience — which can last longer if the first one holding the rope is hesitant to open each door leading to the next experience or wants to immerse in the artist's world longer — visitors can meet actors portraying creepy manga characters including the two-faced Tomie as well as grotesque works of the artist.

Junji Ito's iconic works are on display during the "Junji Ito Horror House" at LC Tower DEUX in Hongdae, Seoul. Courtesy of Waysbe

After the immersive experience zone, visitors can also see the original drawings and scripts of the artist who has drawn inspiration from traditional Japanese folklore and supernatural elements. In the interview, streamed from the television screen placed in one corner, Ito says his horror works could be categorized as "the scariest thing is people" genre and politely adds, "Please enjoy the horror."

Alexis Cabada, 25, from the United States, said as soon as she saw this exhibition on Instagram, she decided that she simply had to see it. "I don't think we have exhibitions like this in America. I've assumed it was just like exhibitions with pictures showing how it was created. It wasn't until I walked in and we got the rope (I recognized how immersive it was). It's really cool to go inside. It's like a haunted house." she said, adding that "Gyo" series is her favorite. "It was really like immersive and it's really surprising to figure out how everything was incorporated."

Ito's Seoul exhibition, available for ages 14 and up, runs until Sept. 8 at LC Tower DEUX, near Hongik University Station.

Immersive horror media theme park OPCI explore supernatural and paranormal experiences. Courtesy of dotmill

Supernatural experience at OPCI

For those craving supernatural chills over cheap jump scares, the Organization for Psychic Case Investigation (OPCI) is the place to be.

This immersive horror experience throws you into the world of the "OPCI, the World's First Paranormal Investigation Agency." Donning an outfit straight out of the 1980s, your guide ushers you in, detailing the OPCI's illustrious 400-year history since its founding in 1624. The unsettling atmosphere is amplified by the backdrop — a chilling display of photographs depicting past test subjects, smeared red stains hinting at violence, outdated mobile phones and severed fingers.

After the organizers equip you with heart rate monitors, you, as the applicants recruited for the agency's field trip, embark on this chilling adventure. The mission takes visitors through a series of rooms that are filled with scary sights and sounds. Leveraging the power of AI-generated images, virtual reality technology and other immersive media, such as holograms and projection mapping, the OPCI goes beyond cheap thrills, transporting the visitor to a realm of unsettling and otherworldly horror.

The entire experience, for people aged 15 and up, takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete. It is currently open to the public at Times Square mall in Yeongdeungpo District in southwestern Seoul.

Horror experience "Gwigul: Hyeolansikgwi" (A Haunted Den) runs at the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Courtesy of Korean Folk Village

Haunted Korean Folk Village

Korean Folk Village, a history theme park in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, offers Korean-themed horror experiences. "Salguiok" (A Haunted Prison) is set in the fictional village of Sindanggol that has been transformed into a haunted prison by an evil shaman.

Participants, in groups of four to six, navigate a winding 400-meter path through the village, encountering various scenes of horror and the ghouls that inhabit Salguiok. Along the way, they must solve puzzles and perform tasks in order to progress through the experience and escape Salguiok alive.

Be prepared for intense and unpredictable scares as ghost actors, strategically placed throughout the village, utilize a variety of techniques to startle and frighten participants. These include sudden appearances, loud noises and even physical contact. The experience also makes use of sensory elements such as strobe lights, fog machines and creepy sounds to heighten the sense of dread and anticipation.

When you successfully escape the prison, you can get a "bujeok," or a paper talisman imbued with spiritual energy.

If you prefer a lesser fearful experience, you can also book for "Gwigul: Hyeolansikgwi" (A Haunted Den). This haunted house experience takes place in a dimly lit indoor, set in a Joseon-era village ravaged by famine. The pungent aroma of decay wafts from the abandoned houses, their vacant windows like vacant eyes staring into the abyss. The air is thick with an unsettling stillness, broken only by the creaking of ancient timbers and the occasional rustle of unseen creatures. Dare to enter a world where shadows whisper secrets and the unknown lurks around every corner.

Both experiences, lasting for about 15 to 20 minutes, are available for those aged 13 and up and are running only on Fridays, weekends and holidays until Nov. 10.