Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital

The Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital was an abandoned medical building near Gonjiam in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Reportedly opened in the 1960s and closed some decades later, the modest facility fell into dereliction and became one of the country's most talked-about abandoned sites. Accounts of exactly why it closed vary, with unverified rumours ranging from financial and sanitation problems to ownership disputes; reliable documentation is limited, and much of what circulates online is speculative rather than sourced.

During its years standing empty, the shell of the hospital drew urban explorers and thrill-seekers, and stories accumulated of strange noises, cold rooms and unsettling feelings inside the ruined wards. These reports are anecdotal, shaped by the building's grim reputation and later by a popular 2018 horror film that borrowed its name and notoriety. No supernatural claim about the site has been substantiated.

The hospital's real significance is now largely as a cultural phenomenon and a cautionary example of how abandoned institutions accrue legend. Much of the structure has since been demolished, and interest in the location today is chiefly historical and cinematic.

The hospital is no longer standing as it once was; the site has been largely demolished and cleared, and the intact building that fuelled its reputation is effectively gone. It is not an operating attraction, and there is no visitor facility, ticketing or tour associated with it.

Entering former hospital grounds or any remaining ruins can involve trespassing on private or restricted land, as well as safety hazards. Visitors are advised to respect access restrictions and local regulations and to treat the former medical setting with sensitivity rather than seeking it out for thrills.