North Korean 105-floor ‘Hotel of Doom’ Deserted for 30 Years
It’s a Guinness record holder for world’s tallest unoccupied building
In 1987, work began on the Ryugyong Hotel in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The hotel name means ‘capital of willows’, which was also one of the historical names for Pyongyang. It was to be over 1000 feet high, have 3000 rooms, a bowling alley, nightclub and five revolving restaurants at the top. It was also due to open in 1989.
That didn’t happen.
Cut to 2021 and the hotel has yet to be finished and its nickname has become the ‘Hotel of Doom’ as well as the ‘Phantom Hotel’ and the ‘Phantom Pyramid’. Esquire magazine ran a story with the headline:
“The Worst Building in the History of Mankind.”
However, there are now signs that it may still open.
Why has it taken so long? And why does a country that doesn’t exactly welcome foreign visitors need such a huge hotel? Some background is needed.
What was the original plan?
Back in the dark and dismal days of the Cold War, South Korea was backed by the US and North Korea by the Soviets.
