Jiktang Falls

It is barely 3 m high, yet more than 80 m wide. Jiktang Falls cuts straight across the Hantangang River in Cheorwon, and instead of impressing with height, the whole width of the river drops in a single line. The falls were carved out of a basalt plateau created by lava hundreds of thousands of years ago, and they are one of the geosites of the Hantangang River UNESCO Global Geopark.

Steps made by lava

The rock here is basalt from lava that flowed out in the Quaternary period, roughly 540,000 to 120,000 years ago. These flows built up the broad Cheorwon lava plateau, into which the Hantangang has cut a deep channel. As basalt cools it cracks into vertical columns, known as columnar joints. The river prised blocks loose along these cracks, one by one, leaving the stepped ledge you see today.

The Hantangang area became a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2020, and Jiktang Falls is one of its 26 geosites, alongside Bidulginang Falls, Jaein Falls and Goseokjeong.

What to see

• The falls head-on: walk down to the gravel riverbank for a front view. In summer, with high water, white spray fills the whole width of the river; in drier months the layered basalt ledge stands out clearly.
• Stepping stones: above the falls, large stones laid across the river make a crossing. At low water they make for photos that look like walking on the river, but do not cross when the water is high.
• Red arch bridge: look out for the red arch bridge spanning the river near the falls, framed by riverside rocks.

Hantangang River Walk

In winter, floating walkways are laid on the river to create the Hantangang Mulwitgil, a river walk of about 8.5 km from Jiktang Falls to Sundam. It lets you walk along the bottom of a gorge you would normally only look down into. In the 2025–26 season it ran from 13 December to the end of March, 09:00–17:00, closed on Tuesdays. Dates and fees change every year, so check Cheorwon County's announcements.

Combining with Cheorwon

Dongsong-eup lies in the middle of the Cheorwon plain, close to the Demilitarized Zone. Goseokjeong, about 3.5 km away, is the Hantangang's best-known sight, a great rock rising from a basalt gorge, and a little further on stands the shell of the Cheorwon Workers' Party Headquarters, scarred by the Korean War. The geopark extends beyond Cheorwon into Pocheon and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, so adding Bidulginang Falls and Jaein Falls lets you see the many faces of this lava-carved river over a day or two.

Tripto tips

• Visiting: open 24 hours.
• Time needed: 30 minutes for the falls, 3–4 hours if you walk the river walk.
• When to go: the falls are fullest in July–September, and the riverside foliage turns in late October. After heavy rain, access to the riverbank may be closed.
• Take care: wet basalt is slippery. Stay away from the lip of the falls and fast water.
• Getting there: the falls are in Jangheung-ri, Dongsong-eup, Cheorwon. A taxi from central Dongsong is a short ride. Goseokjeong, about 3.5 km away, is an easy pairing.