Visiting Yongma Land - Seoul’s Abandoned Theme Park
Originally posted February 28, 2018
In the suburbs of north eastern Seoul you’ll find Yongma Land — an abandoned, supposedly haunted amusement park.
The park was originally opened in 1980 but was closed down in 2011 due to low attendance. It has since gained a new life as a hotspot for photography and exploration, attracting visitors from all over the world.
The whole place and it’s run down rides have a pretty creepy vibe… that is up until the bands of Korean models show up with their matching outfits, camera men, and boom boxes blasting K-pop.
By the time I left on my first visit, the creepiest thing about the place was me – the lone foreigner, wearing all black, slinking about the place and hanging out on all the rides.
Like most attractions in Seoul, Yongma land is one big photo opp... but, all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and was happy to go back again when a travel buddy at the time came to visit Seoul.
Getting There
Yongma Land's location makes it easily accessible, and it is often recommended as an off-the-beaten-path destination for adventurous travelers looking for something different to do in Seoul.
To get there, go to Mangu Station and take exit 1. After walking around for a bit on my first trip to Yongma, I decided to just get a cab. I had no trouble finding my way back to the station from Yongma Land, but, for some reason, finding my way there was tough.
My second visit to Yongma Land was literally right after we returned to Seoul from our Olympics trip. Mangu station is one stop away from the Sangbong KTX station, and it was silly to go all the way back in to Seoul to drop our things off... so we just brought them all with us... (and, looking like a couple of bag ladies, quickly opted for taking a cab).
Since it only costs a few bucks, cabbing it is the most time and cost effective way to go. Most cabbies are familiar with the park, so it takes the guess work out of navigating there.
Know Before You Go
There will be hoards of selfie taking Koreans... and they probably really will have K-Pop anthems blaring as the soundtrack for their photoshoots. Join the fun! Everyone's here for a few (hundred) quirky shots, and a good time.
At the time of this article’s publication there was also an entrance fee of 5,000 won per person to get in to the park. This amount may have since changed, so bring some extra money just in case!
*Note that only cash is accepted!*
