Yongma Land: Seoul's Abandoned Amusement Park
Looking for an offbeat adventure in Seoul? Look no further than Yongma Land, an abandoned amusement park turned photographer backdrop waiting for you to explore the weathered rides and rusted props.
Yongma Land, Seoul’s viral abandoned amusement park, is a blend of nostalgia and quirky charm. On every trip to Seoul, I make a pilgrimage to Yongma Land to snap up fun photos among the rusty rides and eccentric neon signs. If colorful backdrops, an endless supply of worn-down props, and hoards of Korean models snapping pictures with plastic floral arrangements is appealing to you, then Yongma Land will be high on your "to see in Seoul" list.
In the 1980s, Yongma Land was built as a children’s theme park. Over the decades, it fell into disrepair before closing in 2011. Eventually, the park was turned into an offbeat, derelict photo destination. It now boasts a surreal atmosphere with a collection of decommissioned and repurposed carnival rides, creating a funky backdrop for creative photography and a sense of stepping into a bygone era.
This is definitely an unconventional addition to your Seoul itinerary, but enchanting addition to Seoul's attractions. Reports of hauntings have cemented Yongma Land into local folklore but, as long as you have a tetanus shot, there’s nothing to be scared of. As a repeat visitor to the park, I’ve created this guide filled with all the details you need to know about Yongma Land and what to expect when you visit.
how to get to Yongma Land ↴
I always use Seoul’s public transportation to get to Yongma Land. Seoul has a well-connected, clean, and efficient subway system that makes getting to Yongma Land relatively easy. Jump on Line 7 and take it to Mangu Station, the closest subway station to the Yongma Land's entrance. From Mangu Station, it’s a short walk through residential streets to the park entrance gate.
Alternatively, taxis are readily available and provide a convenient door-to-door service. This is a more expensive way to get to the park, but depending on where you are coming from, it can still be relatively affordable.
admission to Yongma Land↴
There's a 10,000₩ per person entrance fee that's cash only. The fee allows you to spend as much time as you like in the crumbled setting snapping pictures. If there isn’t an attendant at the gate, there is a phone number you can call to be let in, though it will require you to have a Korean SIM card.
The admission fee is rumored to help cover the cost of keeping the toilet facilities maintained, but when I went it was BYOT (bring your own tissue), so I’m not sure how true that is.
on a scale from 1 to 10, how extra am I in this photo? 13? okay, cool.
what to expect at Yongma Land ↴
I’ve visited Yongma Land multiple times, and every trip there is filled with hilarious mishaps and hijinks. The first time I visited, I went with a friend at the end of the Winter Olympics. Tired and a bit hungover, we changed our clothes in the subway bathroom and spent a couple of hours clambering over weathered rides and moving props to snap funky photos. Yongma Land is truly a good time amongst girlfriends.
The second and third times I visited Yongma Land, I brought Luke, which was an equally hilarious adventure. We paid our admission fee and walked through the gate. Luke’s face as he saw the sprawling park sitting in its lopsided state was priceless. The creepy carousel was just barely moving with the wind, and shopping carts sat overturned in random locations next to arcade games that no longer worked. We spent a few hours taking pictures of one another, filming clips of us pushing one another on the quiet rides, and then slowly made our way back to the subway. As the sun set, the park’s lights were turned on, which felt a tad creepy.
what to bring to Yongma Land ↴
Cash | Cash is the only form of payment accepted at the entrance gate and there are no ATMs or cash withdrawal points in the park. Come prepared with local currency.
Tripod, camera, etc. | The entire point of coming to Yongma Lans is to take photos, so you’ll obviously want to bring your camera. If you’re a solo traveler, bring a tripod so that you don’t have to depend on others to take your photos for you. There are often other people snapping photos, but depending on the time of day and season you visit in, you may have the whole park to yourself.
Creativity | The park is a giant photo trap, so take full advantage and get creative. Move pieces around, climb up the old structures, and get silly! There are limitless props at your disposal.
map ↴
Find Yongma Land, Seoul’s abandoned amusement park on the map below.
