Songdowon International Children's Camp

Tucked near Wonsan in Kangwon Province, the Songdowon International Children's Camp has been welcoming kids from around the world since 1960. Designed to welcome schoolchildren from around the world, the camp fosters cultural exchange and global connections while providing an active, engaging environment for young campers. In 2014, Marshal Kim Jong Un oversaw major renovations that increased the camp's capacity to 1,200 students at a time.

Who's Here?

Each summer, around 400 international children and teenagers (up to age 16) join local campers. Many of these friends from abroad come from China, Russia, Thailand, Mongolia, Mexico, Tanzania, and Nigeria.

Due to the DPRK being shut down for a few years following the 2020 pandemic, we are unsure if this camp has resumed, and we do not know if prices have been updated, but in the past, thanks to subsidies from the Kim Il Sung-Kim Jong Il Socialist Youth league, a two-week adventure here cost families a few hundred USD.

Outdoor Facilities

Map of the campus.

The camp grounds are extensive and designed to support a variety of recreational and educational activities. At the center is the main camp square, featuring a statue of Kim Il Sung surrounded by children. At one side of the square is the activity building where you will also find the cafeteria, while the dormitories are on the opposite side.

Outdoor facilities include a full-size waterpark with slides and a diving board, a soccer field, basketball courts, an archery range. The campus resembles a giant park with educational signs about local plants and animals placed throughout. Just in front of the camp lies Songdowon Beach, where students can enjoy swimming and other seaside activities.

Indoor Facilities

Dorms are sex-segregated, with six beds per room, and are painted in blue for boys and pink for girls. In addition to outdoor swimming, the camp features multiple indoor pools.

Tunnel Aquarium at Songdowon Internaional Children's Camp.

The aquarium, one of the camp's standout buildings, showcases turtles, sharks, dolphins, and a wide range of marine life, each species accompanied by educational information. The main recreation hall contains a library, international friendship room, art studio, arcade, 4D cinema, theater, gym with a rock climbing wall, and even a kitchen where children can participate in cooking classes.

Activities and Programs

Being an international camp, Songdowon emphasizes cultural exchange. Students share their national traditions, learn Korean songs and dances, and participate in practical skills like boating or cooking. Various classes are held as part of the experience, and there's plenty of sports and recreation, including video games. Excursions to nearby attractions, such as skiing at Masikryong Resort or mountain hikes, further enrich the experience.

Kids watching an instructional video on preparing a particular dish while the teacher prepares the kitchen next door for hands-on learning.

Visiting Songdowon

Taedong Tours includes Songdowon International Children’s Camp on select group itineraries, such as our Liberation Day and Summer Tours to Wonsan. Visits can also be arranged on independent tours, with summer being the ideal time to experience the camp in full activity. Student groups can be accommodated, providing a unique opportunity to engage with North Korean children and international peers alike.

Songdowon remains a distinctive destination where education, recreation, and international friendship converge, offering a rare insight into the DPRK's efforts to connect its youth with the wider world.