Yongma Land 2026: Korea's Famous Abandoned Theme Park for K-drama Fans & Photographers
By Koro Team·12 min read·May 11, 2026
An abandoned amusement park 15 minutes from Hongdae has quietly become Korea's most photographed K-drama and K-pop music video set. Yongma Land's rusty carousel has shown up in TWICE and BLACKPINK shoots, on EXO and Red Velvet music videos, and in dozens of K-dramas. Best part: you can pay 10,000 KRW and walk right in. Here's everything foreigners need to actually visit—how to get there, what to wear, and which spots are worth the trip.
What Is Yongma Land?
The carousel (회전목마) is Yongma Land's iconic shot—seen in countless K-pop videos
Yongma Land (용마랜드) opened in 1980 and closed in 2011 after years of financial trouble. Most abandoned parks get demolished. Yongma's owner did the opposite—he left everything standing and started renting the park out to photographers, music video crews, and K-drama producers. Today it's a working set, not a ruin.
The vibe is vintage, melancholic, retrofuturistic—peeling paint, faded mascots, rust on every rail. That's exactly why it photographs so well. Most of the equipment doesn't run, but the famous carousel sometimes spins for visitors when the owner feels like it.
Address: 297-28 Manguro 70-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul (서울 중랑구 망우로70길)
Phone: 02-436-5800 (call before you go—closes randomly)
Vibe: vintage, eerie, photogenic—every surface has character
K-drama & K-pop Appearances
The bumper cars famously appeared in TWICE's 'TT' music video
If you've watched K-pop music videos for any length of time, you've already seen Yongma Land—you just didn't know it had a name. Once you visit, you'll recognize scenes you forgot you'd seen.
TWICE 'TT' — the bumper-car scene is the single most-recognized Yongma Land shot
BLACKPINK — multiple photoshoots and B-roll have been filmed here over the years
EXO and Red Velvet music videos — abandoned aesthetic, neon arcade lights
BTS — fans regularly link the carousel to 'Spring Day' mood scenes (the official location is debated, but the visual cue is here)
Squid Game — promotional shoots and behind-the-scenes content
K-dramas — countless dramas use Yongma Land for flashback or abandoned-amusement scenes
When you walk in, snap the carousel, the bumper cars, and the entrance gate from the same angle as your favorite music video. It's part of the fun—Yongma is one of the few K-pop sets where you can recreate the shot yourself.
How to Get There
The entrance gate's vintage Korean signage is itself a popular photo backdrop
Yongma Land sits in Jungnang-gu, eastern Seoul, on a hillside in Junggong-dong. Subway works, car works better—the closer station still requires a walk up an incline.
By car (recommended): ~30 minutes from Hongdae, free parking on-site
By subway: Line 7 to Sangbong Station, then walk 15 minutes or short taxi (10 min)
By taxi from city center: 20,000-30,000 KRW from Myeongdong; pickup back is harder—book Kakao T return
Address (English): 297-28 Manguro 70-gil, Jungnang-gu, Seoul
Korean address: 서울 중랑구 망우로70길 (search '용마랜드' on KakaoMap or NAVER Map)
Don't use Google Maps for the last 500 meters—use NAVER Map or KakaoMap instead
If you're already renting a car for the Seoul trip, drive. The hillside walk from Sangbong Station is fine in spring and fall, miserable in summer humidity, and slippery in winter.
Pricing & Hours
The ferris wheel no longer runs—its silhouette is striking at golden hour
Pricing is unusually simple for a Korean attraction. The catch is the hours.
Entrance only: 10,000 KRW per person
With photo shoot rights: 50,000 KRW (no restriction on professional gear)
Closed days: random; the owner closes whenever he wants
Best light: morning 10-11am or golden hour 4-6pm
Crowds: weekends busy (small space gets full fast); weekdays often empty
Seriously—call before you go. Foreigners regularly show up and find the gate locked. A Korean friend or a hotel concierge can place the call if your Korean is shaky; the 50,000 KRW shoot fee is more than worth it if you want anything beyond phone snaps.
What to Wear & Bring
Yongma Land rewards intentional styling. Show up in jeans and a hoodie and your photos will look ordinary against an extraordinary backdrop. Lean into the retrofuturistic vibe and your shots will look like album covers.
Aesthetic clothing — retro, pastel, vintage all read well against rust
Hanbok or school uniform — popular for K-drama recreation shots; rent in Bukchon first
Props: balloons, vintage cameras, polaroid cameras, small plush toys
Camera: anything works—iPhone shots look incredible with the natural rust patina
Closed-toe shoes — rust, gravel, and debris on the ground; no sandals
Snacks and water — there's no on-site food and limited shade
If you're going for the full K-drama recreation, a [hanbok rental](/journal/hanbok-rental-guide) day works well—rent in Bukchon, take the carousel shots, drop the hanbok back before the shops close.
Top 6 Photo Spots Inside
The six classic Yongma Land photo spots, all walkable in under an hour
1The Carousel (회전목마) — the iconic shot; sometimes spins on request; try a slow shutter for a motion-blur effect
2Bumper Cars (범퍼카) — TWICE 'TT' throwback; the rust on the cars is photographic gold
3Ferris Wheel (대관람차) — doesn't run, but the silhouette against the sky is striking at sunset
4Arcade Games (아케이드) — rusted machines, faded neon, retro Korean signage
5Entrance Gate (입구) — vintage Korean signage, framed shot from inside looking out
6Animal Mascots (마스코트) — faded, weathered statues that look straight out of a Wes Anderson film
Allow 60-90 minutes to hit all six. If you brought a friend who can model, double that. Yongma Land is small but rewards slow walking—the best shots come from the angles you didn't plan.
Combining Yongma Land With Other Stops
Yongma Land alone is a short stop—plan it as part of a longer day rather than a destination on its own.
Drive itinerary: Yongma Land → Common Ground (Konkuk container market) → Han River picnic — all within a 15-20 min drive
Same-day photo combo: Yongma Land shoot → [인생네컷 photo booth](/journal/korea-photo-studios-guide) in Hongdae
K-pop fan day: Yongma Land → HYBE Insight in Yongsan → BTS landmarks (see [BTS landmarks Korea](/journal/bts-landmarks-korea))
Hanbok day: rent hanbok in Bukchon → drive to Yongma Land → return hanbok before closing
Distances: most combos are 15-20 min apart by car; an extra 15-25 min by transit
Tips & Etiquette
Yongma Land is privately owned and informally run. Treat it like a friend's backyard, not a public park.
Call first — random closures happen weekly; don't skip this
Don't climb the equipment — some pieces are structurally fragile
No food/drinks that could spill or stain the equipment
No flash for nighttime; daytime photography is unrestricted with the paid pass
Cash preferred — card sometimes doesn't work; bring 70,000 KRW in cash if shooting
No public restroom — use one before you arrive
Respect — it's a privately owned, one-of-a-kind set; behave accordingly
Quick Tips
1Call 02-436-5800 the morning of your visit—random closures are the #1 way foreigners get burned
3Visit on a weekday afternoon for empty shots; weekends fill up fast
4Aim for golden hour (4-6pm)—the rust glows orange and the silhouettes get dramatic
5Pair with [BTS landmarks](/journal/bts-landmarks-korea) for a full K-pop fan day
6Rent hanbok in Bukchon beforehand for K-drama recreation shots
7Drive if you can — last-mile transit is awkward
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Yongma Land is one of the rare Seoul spots that genuinely lives up to the hype—because Korean photographers and K-pop crews actually use it. Pair it with a [hanbok day](/journal/hanbok-rental-guide), a [Hongdae photo booth session](/journal/korea-photo-studios-guide), or a longer [K-drama filming locations](/journal/squid-game-filming-locations) loop. If you're driving, rent the car, call ahead, and bring cash—the rest takes care of itself.