PYONGYANG | Ryugyong Hotel | 330m | 1,083ft | 105 fl | On Hold

The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea, is one of the world’s most infamous skyscrapers. Standing at 330m (1,083ft) with 105 floors, it was designed to be the tallest hotel in the world at the time of its groundbreaking in 1987. Often called the “Hotel of Doom”, the project remains on hold after decades of delays, symbolizing both ambition and controversy.

Project Details

• Height: 330m (1,083ft)

• Floors: 105

• Status: On Hold (interior incomplete)

• Function: Planned hotel, mixed-use tower (restaurants, offices, revolving restaurant)

• Architectural Style: Pyramidal, neo-futuristic concrete structure

• Location: Pyongyang, North Korea

History of the Ryugyong Hotel

• 1987: Construction began to showcase North Korea’s modernization.

• 1992: Work halted due to economic collapse after the Soviet Union’s fall.

• 2008–2011: Egypt’s Orascom helped install glass cladding.

• 2018: LED lighting façade was briefly switched on.

• 2025 (current): Still unfinished, with no hotel operations inside.

FAQs – Ryugyong Hotel

Why is the Ryugyong Hotel called the “Hotel of Doom”?
Because it has remained unfinished for decades, symbolizing failed megaprojects.

How tall is it compared to other towers?

• Burj Khalifa (Dubai): 828m

• Shanghai Tower: 632m

• Ryugyong Hotel: 330m
  It remains one of the tallest unoccupied buildings in the world.

Why was construction halted?
Severe economic hardships, sanctions, and lack of investment left the project frozen.

Will the Ryugyong Hotel ever open?
Experts doubt it, but Pyongyang has occasionally suggested limited future use as an office/tech hub.

What does it symbolize for North Korea?
Both national ambition and the risks of overreaching megaprojects without financial sustainability.

Pyongyang Skyline Context

• The Ryugyong dominates Pyongyang’s skyline, rising above projects like the Yanggakdo International Hotel (170m).

• Despite being incomplete, it is North Korea’s most internationally recognized skyscraper.

• Represents Pyongyang’s attempt to rival Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai during the 1980s skyscraper boom.

Global Comparisons

• Taller than the Eiffel Tower (330m vs 324m).

• Matches many completed towers in Dubai, Hong Kong, and New York in height, but not functionality.

• Considered the tallest unoccupied building in the world.

Authoritative Links

• SkyscraperCenter – Ryugyong Hotel

• Wikipedia – Ryugyong Hotel

• BBC – North Korea’s Hotel of Doom

• CNN – Pyongyang Skyscrapers

• ArchDaily – Megaprojects in Asia

Ryugyong Hotel Pyongyang | 330m | 105 Floors | Hotel of Doom On Hold
Discover Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Hotel, a 330m, 105-floor skyscraper nicknamed the “Hotel of Doom.” Learn about its history, height, delays, and global comparisons.
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