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(634)
We had a great time with Joe. So much so that we extended from the regular tour to the longer tour. The jokes were great and his insight from living in Seoul so long was great to add context to the stories he told.
Extending mid-tour is always a good sign the stories were landing. Living here long enough to add that kind of context is what keeps the history from feeling secondhand, glad it came through along with the jokes.
Joe delivered a very knowledgeable round up of gruesome and interesting historical facts and folklore. We all enjoyed it.
Gruesome and interesting tends to be the sweet spot for that route, glad it hit both. Thanks for the rundown.
My friend and I went for the extended tour and there was another couple who joined us for the non-extended version. Felt that the extended version was more worth the money with more sharing of stories and exploring additional sites. Shawn was a great guide and storyteller and also very knowledgeable of the Korean culture and folklore/ghosts. He was always open to answering any questions and sharing more related stories in return. 2.5 hours flew by pretty fast and we wished there was a further extended version haha! As someone who is much more sensitive to the paranormal, I had 3 experiences on the tour, all of which were on the palace grounds. Bought Shawn's book to read more into it :)
The palace grounds tend to be where things get interesting, we hear that a lot. Glad the extended version felt worth it, that extra time is really for the stories that don't fit into the shorter route. And getting Shawn's book means you'll have plenty more to dig into once the tour stories aren't enough.
Shawn was incredible and truly has a gift for bringing these stories to life. His expertise in folklore, combined with his knowledge of Korean history and the human experience, made the tour both fascinating and genuinely thought-provoking. He also went out of his way to show us a few additional places that matched our personal interests, which we really appreciated and were excited to see. We've already recommended Shawn to both friends and family—whether they live in Korea or are planning a visit—and we'll absolutely be checking out his other tours the next time we're back. Thank you, Shawn!
Good to hear he worked in some detours based on what you two were into, that's the kind of thing that happens when a guide actually knows the material cold rather than reciting a script. Folklore and history tend to bleed into each other once you start pulling the thread, glad that came through. We'll pass this along to Shawn.
I'm so glad I went on this tour, it was incredible. Shawn had a wealth of knowledge to share. The spine tingling walk was one that'll haunt me years to come.
Shawn tends to have that effect. There's a lot packed into that walk once you know what you're looking at, glad it stuck with you.
Amazing way to spend an evening in Seoul. Shawn is an engaging storyteller and has so much knowledge about Korean folklore. Most of these stories can’t be heard anywhere else because Shawn has been collecting them himself! There’s also the added layer of ghost activity reports from previous guests on this tour itself. We were thoroughly spooked and enjoyed the mix of old and modern superstitions. Shawn answered all our questions we’re excited to read his book and learn more.
Shawn's been collecting a lot of these stories firsthand, so you're right that you won't find them in a guidebook or a quick search. Mixing in the older superstitions with what guests have reported on the tour itself is what keeps that walk feeling alive instead of rehearsed. Enjoy the book, there's plenty more where that came from.
The experience was really good and we were especially pleased with our guide Shawn. Our guide was very insightful about the subject and told stories in such a way that we were quite spooked, but he was also very funny. He told both modern stories and old stories while going through a neighbourhood in Seoul. We highly recommend this experience! Best regards from Norway Fredrik and Iselin
Good mix of old and new is exactly what keeps that walk from feeling like a history lecture. Glad the humor came through too, Shawn tends to know when a group needs a laugh before the next unsettling bit. Hilsen tilbake to Norway.
100% worth it! Our guide Shawn was so knowledgeable about folklore and ghosts. We visited some beautiful spots that we wouldn't have visited otherwise. The 2,5 hours flew by. Due to our schedule we weren't able to do the second ghost walk that they offer, but next time we're in Seoul, we'll definitely book it. PS Shawn, love your book!
Thanks so much for joining us. I'm happy to hear the evening flew by and that Shawn introduced you to corners of Seoul you might never have found on your own. I'll also make sure he hears your comment about the book. I suspect that'll make his day.
Wonderful storyteller 😊 very pleasant strolls, great stories
Thanks for the kind words. Korean folklore is meant to be told aloud, so I'm happy to hear the stories and the evening walk came together so well for your family. I appreciate you joining us.
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!
Thanks, Trevor. Shawn has a gift for weaving history and folklore together so the stories feel connected to the places you're standing in, not just something from the distant past. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing a different side of Seoul after dark.
