Key takeaways
First-time visitors to Neung-dong and Children's Grand Park notice the zoo and amusement rides before anything else. But this land originally held Yugangwon, the memorial tomb of Empress Sunmyeonghyo — born Lady Min, the wife of Emperor Sunjong, Korea's last reigning monarch before Japan's 1910 annexation. Fact After Sunjong's death in 1926, her remains were relocated so the couple could be buried together at Hongneung-Yureung (in what is now Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province), leaving this land empty; from the 1930s it was used as a golf course. Fact In 1970, President Park Chung-hee ordered a children's park built on this former golf-course site, and Children's Grand Park opened on May 5, 1973 — Children's Day. Fact
FIT TRIP reads this park as ground where royal loss and state-directed children's entertainment overlap on the same site. Walk from the main gate to the amusement rides, and you'll encounter a striking scene found almost nowhere else: royal tomb-guardian stone statues and a carousel, both in the same sightline.
What the postcard image misses
"A Children's Day destination" and "a family outing spot" only show half this park's story. FIT TRIP asks the sharper question: why do stone statues of civil and military officials — the kind that traditionally guard a Korean royal tomb — stand inside this amusement park? The answer isn't accidental landscaping — it's the sequence this land went through: royal tomb, golf course, and finally a national event venue.
✅ Before you go
- Remember that the Yugangwon stone-statue grouping is a protected cultural heritage site, not a playground attraction — view it respectfully
- The botanical garden may be temporarily closed for renovation — check on the day of your visit
- The zoo keeps separate hours from the park's general opening hours
- Visitor numbers rise sharply around Children's Day (May 5)
FAQ
Q: Is the actual tomb still here today?
A: No. The remains were relocated to Namyangju in 1926; only the stone statues remain in the park today. Fact
Q: Is there an admission fee?
A: Park admission has been free since 2006. Only certain paid facilities charge separately. Fact