Seongnyugul Cave, Uljin

Reached at the foot of a cliff beside the Wangpicheon River in Uljin, Seongnyugul is a limestone cave packed with stalactites, stalagmites and columns. Inside are nine large chambers and pools 4-5 m deep, and in 2019 inscriptions about 1,500 years old were found on its walls recording a visit by King Jinheung of Silla. It became a Natural Monument in 1963 and is a geosite of the Gyeongbuk East Coast National Geopark.

About the cave

The cave lies in Gusan-ri, Geunnam-myeon, near the Buryeongsa valley. Including flooded sections it runs about 915 m, of which the main cave is about 470 m. The limestone is Palaeozoic and comes in pale pink, grey-white and white. What sets it apart from other limestone caves is that water from the Wangpicheon seeps in and forms underground lakes.

Several stories surround the name. It was first called Seonyugul, "cave where immortals play". It is said to have become Seongnyugul, "where a sage stayed", after Prince Bocheon, a son of Silla's King Sinmun, built a hermitage and practised meditation inside. Another version links the name to Buddhist statues hidden here during the Imjin War of the 1590s. A sadder tradition holds that about 500 villagers sheltered in the cave during that war and died when the entrance was sealed.

The cave is also a research site. A study of cracks in its stalagmites, columns and flowstone curtains suggested they may have been caused by prehistoric earthquakes, and faults active in the Quaternary period run through the Uljin area.

What to see

• Chambers and formations: each chamber has its own mix of icicle-like stalactites, rising stalagmites and columns where the two have met. The lighting lets you see the texture of individual columns up close.
• Underground lakes: clear pools run beneath the walkway, and the reflected stalactites make the cave look deeper than it is.
• Silla inscriptions: in 2019, characters carved in the Silla period were identified on the walls and stalagmites around the eighth chamber. They record that King Jinheung came here in the gyeongjin year, 560, a royal visit absent from the historical chronicles. Names of hwarang (young Silla elite warriors) and monks were carved alongside.
• The approach: a path decorated to look like rock runs along the river to the entrance, with mountain views across the water.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: March to October 09:00-18:00, November to February 09:00-17:00. Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Closed on Mondays (the following day if Monday is a public holiday).
• Admission: adults KRW 5,000, teenagers and soldiers KRW 3,000, children KRW 2,500. Over-65s and preschool children enter free with proof.
• Time needed: 40 minutes to 1 hour inside the cave. Parking, restaurants and a lawn are near the entrance.
• What to bring: the cave is cooler than outside and the floor can be wet, so wear non-slip shoes and bring a light layer.
• Combine with: Mangyangjeong Pavilion on the coast and the Buryeongsa valley for a day in Uljin.