Settlement Archive

    Haunted Places in Pyongyang

    2 cataloged locations in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Uncover historical records and field investigation details.

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    2 spectral locations cataloged

    Unfinished Skyscraper
    4/5

    Ryugyong Hotel

    PyongyangDemocratic People's Republic of Korea1987

    Dominating the skyline of Pyongyang, the 105-story Ryugyong Hotel stands at 330 meters as one of the most enigmatic and haunting structures in modern architecture. Commenced in 1987 under Kim Il Sung to showcase national prestige, construction was abruptly halted in 1992 amid severe economic collapse following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. For over sixteen years, the massive pyramid remained a hollow, unlit concrete shell looming over the capital like a monumental tombstone. Although an exterior glass facade and LED light array were added decades later, the interior remains completely unfinished, dark, and off-limits to tourists. Dubbed the 'Hotel of Doom' by international media, the towering megastructure has acquired a formidable urban reputation shrouded in stories of structural curses, trapped construction worker spirits, and eerie unexplainable light displays on unpowered floors.

    Royal Mausoleum
    4/5

    Tomb of King Tongmyong

    PyongyangDemocratic People's Republic of Korea5th Century

    Situated in a scenic, pine-forested valley in Ryongsan-ri, Ryokpo District, Pyongyang, the Tomb of King Tongmyong is one of the most revered ancient royal mausoleums in Korea. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within the Complex of Koguryo Tombs, the mausoleum contains the sacred burial mound of King Tongmyong (Jumong), the legendary founder of the ancient Goguryeo Kingdom (58 BCE – 668 CE). Originally constructed in Jolbon and relocated to the new Goguryeo capital of Pyongyang in 427 CE during the reign of King Jangsu, the mausoleum complex encompasses 63 individual ancient tombs, the restored Chongrungsa Buddhist Temple, stone warrior guardians, and vibrant lotus wall paintings inside the stone burial vault. Shrouded in ancient royal mythology, local legends tell of phantom warrior guardians patrolling the pine groves, glowing ancestral light orbs floating above the burial mound, and the ghostly sound of celestial horse hooves echoing at dawn.