Mangyongdae Funfair – Pyongyang, North Korea - Atlas Obscura

Mangyongdae Funfair

This abandoned-looking amusement park is frighteningly open for business. 

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The Mangyongdae Funfair is an amusement park in Mangyongdae-guyok. And though crowds are sparse, it refuses to close its doors.

Most of the rides in this rickety operation seem to be falling apart at the seams, though the roller coaster, merry-go-round, and train ride are functional. Local farmers regularly test the rides.

Allegedly, when foreign journalists visit the park, they are commonly kept on a bus until local residents can be rounded up to make the place look at least a little bit livelier. It’s also said that these foreign visitors are allowed to go on the rides first, for publicity purposes. 

While the local-tested rides are bundles of fun, it’s not all rusty carousels and roller coasters. You can also enjoy some good, old-fashioned amusement park fun at the shooting gallery, where everyone gets the chance to enjoy taking aim at some imperialist aggressors.

Kim Jong-un inspected the park in 2011, and needless to say, Supreme Commander was not pleased. He ordered the park to be cleaned up and brought to the standards of the Songun era, with the “Military First” ideology that officials serve the people. No word on any improvements being made just yet.

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