Mangyongdae Funfair, Pyongyang

Name: Mangyongdae Funfair
Address: Pyongyang, North Korea

#21 among attractions in Pyongyang

Amusement, Amusement park

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Facts and practical information

Mangyongdae Funfair, nestled in the capital city of Pyongyang, North Korea, represents a unique blend of amusement and ideology. As an amusement park, it stands as a recreational venue for locals and a curiosity for the few foreign tourists who get a chance to visit the secretive state.

Opened in 1983, Mangyongdae Funfair spans an area of roughly 70 hectares and is located in the Mangyongdae district, which is historically significant as the birthplace of North Korea's founding leader, Kim Il-sung. The park features a variety of attractions, including roller coasters, carousels, a Ferris wheel, and an arcade. Despite being an amusement park, the rides and attractions are often seen as outdated and in need of maintenance, reflecting the broader economic challenges faced by the country.

One of the most notable features of the park is the blend of traditional amusement rides with propaganda elements. The park's aesthetic is a mix of vibrant colors and socialist realism, with murals and statues promoting the North Korean ideology and leadership. This creates a surreal experience for visitors, as the park doubles as a tool for state propaganda.

The park was renovated in 2010 under the directives of then-leader Kim Jong-il, and again received attention from Kim Jong-un in 2012, who ordered upgrades to ensure the facilities met the "world's advanced level" and provided "cultured and emotional life" for the people.

Mangyongdae Funfair is open to the public, including schoolchildren who often visit as part of organized outings. The park operates within the constraints of the country's tight regulations and is one of the few places in North Korea where locals can enjoy leisure activities, though the access might be limited based on social status and permissions.

For tourists, a visit to Mangyongdae Funfair is a rare glimpse into North Korean society and culture. It's an opportunity to observe how entertainment is tailored to fit the narrative of the ruling regime, and how the people engage with such state-sanctioned leisure.

Alternative names: Season: All yearCoordinates: 39°0'2"N, 125°39'7"E

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Pyongyang North Korea

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Day trips

Mangyongdae Funfair – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Arch of Reunification, Tongil Market, Chilgol Church, Bongsu Church.

4.2 miSE
Memorial, Monuments and statues
Arch of Reunification, Pyongyang
109 min walk • The Arch of Reunification, also known as the Monument to the Three-Point Charter for National Reunification, stands as a poignant symbol in the city of Pyongyang, North Korea. This grand archway, constructed in the form of two Korean women in traditional dress...
4.6 miE
Market, Shopping
Tongil Market, Pyongyang
116 min walk • Tongil Market, also known as the Unification Market, is a notable shopping destination located in Pyongyang, North Korea. As a significant commercial hub within the city, it provides a unique glimpse into the daily lives and economic activities of the local populace.
2.5 miNE
Church
Chilgol Church, Pyongyang
64 min walk • Nestled in the heart of Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea, stands Chilgol Church, a site of unique historical and religious significance. This Protestant church serves as a rare symbol of religious practice in a country known for its stringent control over...
4.2 miNE
Church
Bongsu Church, Pyongyang
108 min walk • Bongsu Church is a Protestant church in the Konguk-dong of the Mangyongdae District of Pyongyang in North Korea. It is one of just a handful churches in the country and one of only two Protestant churches, the other one being Chilgol Church.
1 miN
Palace
Mangyongdae Children's Palace, Pyongyang
26 min walk • The Mangyongdae Children's Palace in Pyongyang is a public facility managed by Korean Youth Corps in North Korea where pioneer members can engage in extra-curricular activities, such as learning music, foreign languages, computing skills and sports.
3.8 miE
Bridge
Chungsong Bridge, Pyongyang
98 min walk • The Chungsong Bridge is a major road bridge across the Taedong River in Pyongyang opened in 1983. In the middle of the bridge it has off- and on-ramps westward to the smaller Ssuk Island where the Pyongyang Sci-Tech Complex is located, and then on across a ditch to the larger and mainly agricultural Turu Island.
2.6 miNE
Concerts and shows, Theater
Pyongyang Circus, Pyongyang
68 min walk • The Pyongyang Circus is a multi-function building located in Pyongyang, North Korea. It was completed in 1989. The circus has a floor space of 54,000 m².
4 miE
Ship
USS Pueblo, Pyongyang
102 min walk • USS Pueblo is a Banner-class environmental research ship, attached to Navy intelligence as a spy ship, which was attacked and captured by North Korean forces on 23 January 1968, in what was later known as the "Pueblo incident" or alternatively, as the "Pueblo crisis".
3.3 miE
Museum
Pyongyang Sci-Tech Complex, Pyongyang
85 min walk • The DPRK Sci-Tech Complex is a science and technology centre housed in a large atom-shaped building located on Ssuk Island in Pyongyang, accessed by the Chungsong Bridge. It was completed in 2015.
3.5 miSE
City, Neighbourhood
Rangrang-guyok, Pyongyang
89 min walk • Rangrang-guyŏk or Rangrang District is one of the 18 kuyŏk that constitute the city of Pyongyang, North Korea. It is located south of the Taedong River, and is bordered to the north by Songyo-guyok, to the east by the Ryokpo-guyok, and to the south by Chunghwa and Kangnam counties.
2 miE
Island
Turu Island, Pyongyang
51 min walk • Turu Island is a large island in the Taedong River in Pyongyang, North Korea, separated by a shallow channel from the smaller Ssuk Island to its east. Since 1983 both islands have been accessible by road via an off-ramp in the middle of the Chungsong Bridge.