Ryugyong Hotel remains empty 39 years after construction began

The Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang remains one of the world's most prominent empty buildings, having failed to host a single guest since construction began in 1987. Standing 330 meters tall with 105 floors, the pyramidal skyscraper was intended to showcase North Korean modernity and attract foreign investment during the Cold War.

Construction reached its maximum height in 1992 but stalled abruptly following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had provided crucial economic support. At the time, the project's cost was estimated at approximately $750 million, representing nearly 2% of North Korea's GDP. While the building received a glass facade and exterior lighting in 2008, the interior remains unfinished and the authorities continue to seek investors.