[KoreaUrbanLegend] Namyang Psychiatric Hospital

 

 Gonjiam Namyang Psychiatric Hospital was a mental health facility located at 114 Shindaegil, Gonjiam-eup, Gwangju, South Korea. It opened in December 1992 and closed in July 1996. The building later gained attention when CNN listed it as one of the "7 Creepiest Places in the World." On May 28, 2018, a sales contract for the hospital's land and three surrounding plots totaling over 69,000 m² was finalized, and the building was subsequently demolished. A film titled Gonjiam inspired by this location was released in 2018.

The area has been controversial due to issues with trespassing. Following CNN's designation, many people seeking a thrill have visited, causing discomfort to local residents. Especially during the summer, the number of visitors increases, and some fail to clean up after themselves or cause noise disturbances, prompting locals to report incidents to the police or file complaints. Despite warnings stating, "Trespassing may result in criminal charges," unauthorized entry continues to occur. In light of this situation, the property owner is considering legal action against film production companies for spreading false information and trespassing.

Additionally, false information about the hospital continues to circulate. Claims such as "patients died leading to the hospital's closure," "the hospital director committed suicide," and "the property owner is missing" have been widely spread. However, the actual director works at a different hospital, and while their children inherited the facility, it closed due to management issues and conflicts. The property owner has immigrated to the United States, and patients were transferred to Yongin Mental Hospital. The building was not demolished earlier due to approximately 3 billion won in capital gains tax.