Yongma Land 2026: Korea's Famous Abandoned Theme Park for K-drama Fans & Photographers

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?

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)
• Famous features: carousel, bumper cars, ferris wheel (silhouette only), arcade games, animal mascots
• Vibe: vintage, eerie, photogenic—every surface has character

K-drama & K-pop Appearances

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

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

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)
• Hours: roughly 10:00-18:00 (varies—call 02-436-5800 first)
• 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

1. 1The Carousel (회전목마) — the iconic shot; sometimes spins on request; try a slow shutter for a motion-blur effect
2. 2Bumper Cars (범퍼카) — TWICE 'TT' throwback; the rust on the cars is photographic gold
3. 3Ferris Wheel (대관람차) — doesn't run, but the silhouette against the sky is striking at sunset
4. 4Arcade Games (아케이드) — rusted machines, faded neon, retro Korean signage
5. 5Entrance Gate (입구) — vintage Korean signage, framed shot from inside looking out
6. 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

1. 1Call 02-436-5800 the morning of your visit—random closures are the #1 way foreigners get burned
2. 2Bring cash (70,000 KRW covers entry + shoot fee with buffer)
3. 3Visit on a weekday afternoon for empty shots; weekends fill up fast
4. 4Aim for golden hour (4-6pm)—the rust glows orange and the silhouettes get dramatic
5. 5Pair with [BTS landmarks](/journal/bts-landmarks-korea) for a full K-pop fan day
6. 6Rent hanbok in Bukchon beforehand for K-drama recreation shots
7. 7Drive if you can — last-mile transit is awkward

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.