Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Multi-purpose sports stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea
The Rungrado 1st of May Stadium is a multi-purpose sports venue on Rungra Island in Pyongyang, North Korea, featuring a characteristic shape formed by 16 outward-curving arches. The structure rises over multiple levels and can accommodate an enormous number of spectators as well as various sports facilities within.
The complex was built in the late 1980s and inaugurated in May 1989 to host an international youth festival. Since then, the structure has served as a venue for sporting competitions and large-scale events in the North Korean capital.
The arena regularly hosts large community performances where thousands of participants perform synchronized movements and shared choreography. These events take place before an audience that watches the collective displays and becomes part of a communal experience.
Access is usually only possible as part of organized group visits, where visitors are guided to specific events or performances. The journey typically involves crossing a bridge that links the island to the rest of the city.
The 16 arches of the facade are designed to resemble the petals of a magnolia, the national flower of the country. This architectural design makes the building instantly recognizable from afar and gives it a characteristic appearance across the cityscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.