Peace Dam

The Peace Dam stands 125 m tall on the upper Bukhan River in Hwacheon, not far from the inter-Korean border. As a flood-control dam it normally holds almost no water, so a huge concrete wall blocks an all but empty valley – a striking sight. It also captures a chapter of modern Korean history: Cold War fear, politics and an unexpected twist.

History: born of a "water bomb" scare

In 1986 the South Korean government announced that if North Korea's Geumgangsan (Imnam) Dam were breached, a vast flood could reach Seoul. Work on the Peace Dam began in February 1987, and an 80 m first stage was completed in 1989. 63.9 billion won of the cost came from public donations. In 1993, however, a state audit found that the threat had been greatly exaggerated, and the dam was long criticised as a political tool.

Raised again

In 2002, when a large volume of water suddenly came down from the northern dam, the government decided to raise the Peace Dam. The second stage was finished in October 2005. Today it is 601 m long and 125 m high, the tallest dam in South Korea, with a maximum capacity of about 2.6 billion tonnes. During the heavy rains of 1996 and 1999 it held back part of the flood and helped the downstream Hwacheon Dam avoid overflowing.

What to see

• Downstream face: look up from the dry side to grasp the scale of the 125 m wall.
• World Peace Bell Park: above the dam, a 37.5-tonne, 5 m bell made from shell casings collected from around 60 countries that have known conflict. Bells sent from other countries are displayed nearby.
• Bimok Park: dedicated to "Bimok", a Korean art song about the sorrow of the Korean War.
• Water Culture Hall: exhibits on the dam and the Bukhan River.
• The road across: provincial road 460 runs along the top of the dam.

An exaggerated threat – and a twist

At the time, the government claimed a collapse of the northern dam could send water "halfway up the 63 Building" in Seoul, and companies were in effect assigned donation quotas based on their sales. The audit later showed the northern dam was far smaller than announced; even a maximum release would only have flooded some low-lying areas along the Han in Seoul. North Korea halted work after the first stage of the Peace Dam was finished, resumed in 1999 and completed its dam in 2003. The second-stage raising cost 232.9 billion won, bringing the total to 399.5 billion won.

Tripto tips

• Getting there: it is a long mountain drive from Hwacheon town, so a car or organised tour is easiest. In winter, check road conditions first.
• Combine with: an auto-camping site and the Baegamsan cable car are nearby for a full day out.
• Opening times: check the hours of the Water Culture Hall and other facilities with Hwacheon County before you go.
• Time needed: 1–2 hours for the dam, the bell park and Bimok Park.