Seoul: Evening Dark History, Folklore & Ghost Story Walking Tour
Description
Korea's most popular ghost tour! One of the top things to do in Seoul. This is the side of Seoul that you won’t find in the tourism brochures. Take a tour down the dark alleys of Seoul's forgotten 600-year history of bloody massacres, seedy hideaways and mourning ghosts. Self-proclaimed clairvoyants on the tour have reported a few sightings, including a little girl who has been seen following the group around. This is not only a ghost tour, but a walk unearthing Seoul's murky and violent past, making the city much more interesting and intimate. Guests also receive an online map of all the haunts, murder sites, and torture chambers mentioned on the tour. IMPORTANT: Content is rated PG-13. There are some stories of sex & violence. Parents and those with sensitive ears take caution. ✅ Single traveler-friendly ✅ Female traveler-friendly ✅ LGBTQ+ traveler-friendly STARTING POINTS "The Original Ghostwalk" Anguk Station, exit 2 "Ghostlore & Legends" Seodaemun Station, exit 4
Tour Options
Itinerary
(Tues, Wed, Fri) Regular & Extended Editions (Thurs, Sat, Sun) Extended Edition only
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 18 years without guardian
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, it is recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please check the tour start location, as it's different depending on the day of week.
- Subway is the best way to arrive at the meeting point. Taxis tend to get stuck in traffic.
Reviews(626)
Wonderful storyteller 😊 very pleasant strolls, great stories
The Seoul: Evening Dark History, Folklore & Ghost Story Walking Tour was a fascinating and unique way to experience the city after dark. The stories were captivating, blending history, folklore, and local legends into an engaging evening. Our guide, Shawn, was knowledgeable, friendly, and an excellent storyteller who brought each tale to life. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a different side of Seoul!
We had a great time during this tour with Shawn! We've done quite a few spooky and haunted tours all over the world, but Shawn's way with words and stories made this one of the most memorable (read: best) we've been on. Despite the heavy rain, the route felt manageble and safe to walk. Shawn has a good walking pace that's easy to follow and we didn't lose anyone! We even ended the tour with more people than we started with. Halfway through the tour we noticed a girl in a long white dress amongst the group staring at us in pure silence, we swore we hadn't seen her before but we took her along anyway. Just kidding. (or am I???????) All jokes aside, I highly recommend going on this tour with Shawn! The stories and sites were interesting and gave us the chills several times. We went on the extended tour and it was definitely worth it.
Thanks for braving the rain with Shawn. Weather like that somehow makes the stories land a little harder, and I'm pleased to hear the route still felt comfortable and manageable. Also, we'll be reviewing the attendance records for the mysterious woman in white. So far, nobody has been able to confirm she booked a ticket. 👀
In my experience the tour is not worth this price, I book the extended tour and I cant say I found out much. I guess Joe is tired of repeeating the same story over and over again over the years, which I understand, but it makes the tour a bit sluggish
Thanks for joining us and for the candid feedback. I'm sorry the experience didn't connect with you the way you'd hoped. The Dark Side of Seoul is designed as a storytelling walk focused on Korean folklore, history, and the cultural beliefs behind the stories rather than a fast-paced sightseeing tour, but we understand that different guests come away with different expectations. We appreciate your comments and will keep them in mind as we continue refining the experience.
Not only was it nice to walk around the city at night (due to it being more tranquil) but we walked through streets I hadn’t seen or been to before. Shawn was a very good story teller and it was nice to listen to the stories he told. It was a fun evening and I will definitely book a new tour in the future.
Thanks for joining Shawn for the evening. One of the nice things about exploring Seoul at night is that even familiar neighborhoods can feel completely different once the crowds thin out and the stories start. Happy to hear you enjoyed the walk, and that Shawn's tales made those quieter streets a little more memorable.
Hands down, a very good ghost story walking tour! What I liked: I was only one of two attendees, which made the tour and story telling more personal. Shawn Morrisey, our tour guide, was an engaging storyteller, never a boring moment. The stories and urban legends he narrated, as well as the folklore associated with them, were very interesting. The tour itself was the right length for me, although I would think the two and a half hour walk might be too much for older people. They have a shorter tour available, too. (Personally, I didn't even notice the time; the engagement was that good!) What I "didn't like:" Nobody to blame here, really. I just wished that I booked the ghost walk in the beginning of my time in Korea instead of the night before I was scheduled to fly out. Shawn mentioned other places to see, connected with the tour, but circumstances for me made it impossible to visit them. As I told Shawn, "On my next trip to Korea!" (Better book the tour early in your Korean vacation, as you will want to visit and experience the places Shawn mentions.)
Thanks for the thoughtful write-up. Smaller groups really do change the rhythm of these walks and give Shawn more room to wander into the stranger corners of Korean folklore and urban legends. And honestly, your one regret is one we hear fairly often. People suddenly start noticing locations from the tour all over the city afterward.
Joe was a fantastic tour guide who led us through the folklore of Korea with wit and charm. He always welcomed questions and sought conversation on the way to the next destination. I personally recommend the tour to anyone who wants to learn about the spirits of Korea. 5☆
Thanks for spending the evening wandering Seoul’s stranger corners with me. Korean folklore works best when it feels conversational rather than theatrical, so I’m always happy when the group asks questions and follows the side stories along the way. The city changes a bit once you know what’s supposed to be haunting it.
I'm a fan of ghost stories, urban legends and folklore. I don't know much about Korean folklore, so this was a perfect oppurtunity for me to learn. Was it spooky? Yes. Was it chilly? Yes. Do I recommend? Absolutely!
Thanks. Seoul has plenty of strange little corners once you start digging into the folklore, especially at night when the city gets quieter and slightly less rational. Glad the tour hit the balance between history, atmosphere, and ghost stories without turning into a haunted house attraction. Also sounds like the weather cooperated with the mood for once.
I had a great time it was really nice
Short, direct, and appropriately mysterious. Appreciate you spending the evening wandering Seoul’s darker corners with us. The city gets a lot more interesting once the daylight tourists head home.
We have done ghost tours around the world and this was one of the best. It is not because we saw several ghosts. Instead, it is because we heard fascinating stories about real events and real people that have lived in the folklore of Korea. Shawn Morrissey is a fantastic guide with a depth of knowledge and the ability to tell a story. We took the extended tour and it seemed to end too soon. Shawn kept the tour moving and the information flowing.
That’s exactly the lane Shawn likes to stay in. Korea’s ghost stories tend to grow out of very real anxieties, political upheavals, betrayals, and social beliefs, so the line between folklore and history gets blurry in interesting ways. Also, anyone saying the extended edition felt short is probably the best compliment a storytelling guide can get.
