Hwaamdonggul Cave

Hwaamdonggul in Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon, links an old gold-mine tunnel and a natural limestone cave on a single walking route. In 1934, miners digging a gold tunnel broke into a huge limestone cavern; today you walk through galleries that recreate the miners' work before descending into a great underground hall of white stalagmites and columns. The whole route is 1,803 m long.

From gold mine to cave

From 1922 to 1945 this area was the Cheonpo gold mine. As miners followed the gold veins deeper, they struck a natural cave far underground. It formed in limestone laid down early in the Paleozoic era. It became a Gangwon provincial monument in 1980 and was upgraded to a national Natural Monument in 2019. The cave opened to visitors in 1993 and is part of the Gangwon Paleozoic National Geopark.

What to see

• Gold-mine galleries: the upper 515 m or so of the route recreates the work of the mine, from finding a vein to extracting and hauling the ore. The rough rock walls of the old tunnels are left as they were.
• The great hall: the natural cave opens into a chamber about 100 m long. Large white stalagmites, columns, stalactites and flowstone that seems to pour down the walls are picked out by lighting.
• Smaller formations: look for helictites that twist in every direction as if ignoring gravity, petal-like cave flowers and coral-like growths. The closed sections are especially rich in cave flowers of unusual colours and shapes, one of the reasons the cave was made a Natural Monument.
• Stairways: steep stairs link the upper mine galleries with the lower cave. There is a fair amount of climbing, so wear comfortable shoes.

The galleries also have cave-character figures and hands-on corners for children, so many visitors come as families.

Half a billion years underground

The rock that holds the cave belongs to the Joseon Supergroup, laid down in shallow seas early in the Paleozoic era; the Pungchon limestone and Hwajeol formation are exposed around the cave. Limestone slowly dissolves in rainwater made weakly acidic by carbon dioxide, and where drips fall into the hollows that form, calcite builds up again into stalagmites and stalactites. Jeongseon, Yeongwol and Taebaek share many of these rock layers, caves and old mining landscapes, which is why Hwaamdonggul is part of the Gangwon Paleozoic National Geopark.

The Hwaam Eight Views

Hwaamdonggul is number four of the Hwaam Eight Views, a set of eight celebrated sights around Hwaam-myeon. Close to the cave you'll find the Cheonpo gold-mining village, which tells the story of the mining years, the Jeongseon Local History Museum and a go-kart track, so it is easy to fill half a day. View number one, Hwaam Mineral Spring, has water rich in carbonate that gives it a naturally fizzy bite.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: 09:30–18:00; last admission on foot is 16:00 (17:10 in peak season). The monorail up to the entrance stops selling tickets at 16:30. The regular closing day is Wednesday, but the cave stays open every day in peak season, so check the Jeongseon facilities corporation's notices before you go.
• Time: the cave itself takes about 1.5 hours; allow 2 hours with the monorail and a short walk around.
• Reaching the entrance: it is uphill from the ticket office to the cave mouth. Take the monorail if you would rather not walk.
• What to bring: it stays cool inside even in midsummer, and some floors are wet. Bring a light jacket and shoes with good grip.
• Getting there: about 30 minutes by car south of Jeongseon town. Buses are infrequent, so a car or taxi is easiest. There is a car park.
• Combine with: Hwaam-myeon also has Hwaam Mineral Spring, whose water tastes naturally fizzy, and the Mollundae cliff viewpoint. It pairs well with Gariwangsan or the Jeongseon Arirang Market for a full day.