Chungju Hwalok Cave (충주 활옥동굴)

12.6Km 2025-03-16

26 Mokbeoran-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do

Developed in 1922 during the Japanese Forced Occupation, this is the only talc mine in Korea and is the largest in the East, with a recorded length of 57km, an unofficial length of 87km, and an underground vertical x_height of 711m. A 2.5km-long stretch of the cave has been developed into a tourist site, filled with light sculptures, performance venues, and health therapy zones. LED, neon, and a variety of natural lights create a mysterious atmosphere, and since the temperature stays between 11 and 15 degrees year-round, it's even more popular in summer. There is also a kayaking experience that allows visitors to see inside the cave by kayaking in a lake created by mineral water.
Note that the temperature inside the cave averages between 11 and 15 degrees Celsius, which is warm in the winter but cold in the summer, so you'll want to bring a long-sleeved jacket.

Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park (문경새재도립공원)

12.7Km 2023-02-13

932, Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-571-0709

Mungyeongsaejae Pass, which crosses Joryeongsan Mountain, has always been the highest and most dangerous mountain pass in Korea, being reputed to be too tall for even birds to fly over. The three gates of Juheulgwan, Jogokgwan, and Joryeonggwan were built for national defense after the Imjin War (1592-1598). These three gates are designated collectively as Historic Site No. 147. The area between the three gates was designated a provincial park in 1981. The path from the first gate to the last passes through beautiful forests and takes roughly four hours round-trip. Also located within the park boundaries is Mungyeongsaejae Open Set, used for filming historical dramas.

Mungyeong Chasabal Festival (문경찻사발축제)

12.7Km 2025-03-10

932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-53-253-4729

Home to many ceramic masters and artisans, Mungyeong holds the Mungyeong Chasabal (Tea Bowl) Festival every year to honor and develop traditional Korean pottery and ancestral craftsmanship. The festival holds an exhibit with more than 200 kinds of high-quality and high-end ceramics and an online auction of luxury tea bowls. There is also a performance, “A Day of a Mungyeong Potter,” in which craftsmen tell stories and provide explanations behind their tea bowls to add fun and content to the festival. Visitors can mold their own clay and make tea bowls, and children can partake in various programs, such as playing with clay and performing a tea ceremony.

◎ Chasabal
Chasabal, also known as dawan, is a bowl used for drinking tea. Mungyeong’s traditional tea bowl is made in a firewood kiln called “Mangdaengi,” which uses wood rather than modern gas or electric kilns to make a fire.

Mungyeongsaejae Open Set (문경새재 오픈세트장)

12.7Km 2024-10-15

932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

This open set is a filming location for popular historical dramas such as "Kingdom (2019)," "The Red Sleeve (2021)," and "The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)," and is connected to Mungyeong Provincial Park. One of the most famous spots is the Gwanghwamun Set, which vividly embodies Gwanghwamun Gate. The set has various settings such as a hanok village, downtown area, and a common people's village, spread over a large site, making visitors feel as if they have traveled back in time to the Joseon dynasty.

Mungyeong Saejae Bare-foot Walking Festival (오감만족 문경새재맨발페스티벌)

12.7Km 2025-05-16

932 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-53-755-5881

The festival, held annually in Mungyeong, is a bare-foot walking festival covering approx. 7km. During the festival a main performance, various event booths, bare-foot-walking events, and a singing contest are held, allowing visitors to enjoy the festivities while keeping an eye on their health.

Mungyeongsaejae Open Set (문경새재 오픈세트장)

12.7Km 2024-07-18

932, Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Mungyeongsaejae Open Set has been used for a variety of historical publications, including “Taejo Wang Geon (2000),” “Dae Jo Yeong (2006),” “Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010),” “Moon Embracing the Sun (2012),” “Jeon Woo-chi (2012),” and “Masquerade (2012).” In 2008, the Goryeo Dynasty set was dismantled and redesigned into a Joseon-era set. Visitors can get a glimpse of life in the past through the replica houses and various structures throughout the open set.

Saejae Halmaejip (새재할매집)

12.8Km 2024-02-23

922 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
054-571-5600

Nestled in Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park, Saejae Halmaejip is a Korean restaurant celebrated for its gochujang yangnyeom seoksoe gui (grilled red chili paste marinated meat). The menu also features deodeok gui (grilled deodeok), pajeon (green onion pancake), and dotorimuk (acorn jelly salad), which perfectly complement the signature gochujang yangnyeom seoksoe gui. This long-standing establishment, favored by many regular customers, has also made appearances in several TV shows.

Mungyeong Tourist Hotel (문경관광호텔)

12.8Km 2019-11-12

32-11, Saejae 2(i)-gil, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
+82-54-571-8001

Situated in Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park, Mungyeong Tourist Hotel is surrounded by the beauty of nature. Historically, Mungyeongsaejae was the main pathway between the Yeongnam area and Hanyang (the former name of Seoul). The hotel is equipped with excellent amenities and has been the hotel of choice for many famous actors shooting scenes for Korean dramas or films at the Mungyeong KBS Drama Studio.

Mungyeongsaejae Yetnal Chapssal Tteok (문경새재옛날찹쌀떡)

12.9Km 2024-03-18

914 Saejae-ro, Mungyeong-eup, Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do

Located in the parking lot of Mungyeongsaejae Provincial Park, this place serves handmade sweet rice cakes made from red beans and glutinous rice. Horse Warrant Rice Cake, made in a traditional way without using preservatives, is not too sweet and has crispy nuts in it. In the Joseon dynasty, inspectors used horse warrants to commandeer horses for their missions to rural areas. Figures of horses were drawn differently depending on the grade. In particular, these were used to identify secret imperial inspectors who were dispatched to rural areas and secretly carried out inspection duties. You can also taste Secret Royal Inspector Bread made with Omija marmalade from Mungyeong. Word of mouth spreading at Mungyeongsaejae Pass makes it highly recommended to visit early, as it is likely to be sold out early.

Hotel The Base (더베이스)

13.2Km 2019-02-08

8, Hoam-daero, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do
+82-43-848-9900

Hotel The Base has an indoor/outdoor wedding hall fully equipped for wedding ceremonies, along with conference rooms providing beam projectors, wall screen monitors, a speaker system, a Karaoke machine, and a miniature Eiffel Tower, all of which make for a beautiful interior.

Chungju Hwalok Cave (충주 활옥동굴) - Area information - Korea travel information