Daegeumgul Cave - Daei-ri Cave Area (대금굴 (대이리 동굴지대)) - Area information - Korea travel information

Daegeumgul Cave - Daei-ri Cave Area (대금굴 (대이리 동굴지대))

Daegeumgul Cave - Daei-ri Cave Area (대금굴 (대이리 동굴지대))

12.4Km    2025-01-07

800, Hwanseon-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-541-7600

Daegeumgul Cave is believed to be as old as Hwanseongul and Gwaneumgul Caves located nearby. The entrance to the cave was exposed during an excavation project, and after a long preparatory period, the cave was opened to the public. This newly opened, well-preserved cave is filled with limestone features such as stalactites, and a considerable amount of water flows through the cave, creating waterfalls, both large and small, along with numerous ponds.

Taebaeksan National Park (태백산 국립공원)

Taebaeksan National Park (태백산 국립공원)

12.5Km    2021-09-11

4778, Taebaeksan-ro, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-550-0000

Taebaeksan Mountain range encompasses several peaks such as Yeongbong Peak (alt. 1,560 m), where in the past, people would conduct rites to venerate Heaven at Cheonjedan Altar; Janggunbong Peak (alt. 1,567 m), Munsubong Peak (alt. 1,517 m), and its summit of Hambaeksan Mountain (alt. 1,572 m). Taebaeksan Mountain serves as a home to diverse wild animals and plants, including several endangered species. The higher plains are covered with alpine vegetation. The mountain becomes hot pink with mountain rhododendron and azalea in the spring; green with thick forest and pristine waters in the summer; rainbow colored with changing leaves in the fall; and white with snow in the winter.

Hwanseongul Cave (Daei-ri Cave System) (환선굴 (대이리 동굴지대))

12.5Km    2025-06-10

800 Hwanseon-ro, Singi-myeon, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do

Hwanseongul Cave is the largest limestone cave in Asia, formed estimated 530 million years ago. The cafe features fantastic rocks in various shapes, stalagmites, and stalactites. There have been 47 new breeds of animals discovered in Hwanseongul Cave, with four of these being found to only live in this cave. In April 2010, a monorail was installed within the cave to make it more convenient for people to see all the natural habitat.

Cheonjedan Altar on Taebaeksan Mountain (태백산 천제단)

Cheonjedan Altar on Taebaeksan Mountain (태백산 천제단)

13.5Km    2022-09-13

168, Cheonjedan-gil, Taebaek-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-550-2741

Cheonjedan Altar is a set of altars that were set up by people in the past to offer goods to the heavens. Old records such as the "Samguksagi (History of the Three Kingdoms)" state that the Silla kingdom organized rituals in Taebaeksan Mountain, as it was considered a sacred mountain.

Cheonjedan Altar consists of three altars with the main Cheonwangdan Altar at the center; Janggundan Altar to the north; and Hadan Altar (Lower Altar) to the south. The altars were built by stackings stones to serve as a holy fortress. Cheonwangdan Altar is made of natural stones. It has an oval shape and measures 27.5 meters in circumference, 3 meters in x_height.

Jeongseon Morundae Cliff (몰운대 (정선))

Jeongseon Morundae Cliff (몰운대 (정선))

13.6Km    2025-10-23

1330, Yaksu-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-1544-9053

Morundae Cliff is one of the Eight Scenic Sites of Hwaam. The tip of the steep cliff is adorned with three specimens of 500-year-old pine trees. Legend has it that gods would perch on the cliff’s top and enjoy the beautiful view. At the foot of the cliff lies a large sheet of rock that can accommodate hundreds of people.

Gwaneumgul Cave (Daei-ri Cave Caverns) (관음굴(삼척 대이리 동굴지대))

14.2Km    2021-04-23

557, Hwanseon-ro, Samcheok-si, Gangwon-do
+82-33-570-3545

Gwaneumgul Cave has a reputation of being a must-explore cave by not only Korean scientists but throughout cave academia around the world. The entrance of the cave is 4.2 meters wide, 3 meters high and 1.6 kilometers deep. The underground water flows from the entrance all the way to end all year long producing approximately 15,000 ㎥ per day. The cave also has 4 waterfalls along the way with the largest being 9 meters high. The cave is full of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as straw soda, columns, flowstones, cave corals, aragonite crystals and more. The cave has a total of 24 different types of living organisms, making a desirable cave for academic research.

Mindungsan Mountain (민둥산)

14.2Km    2024-10-08

Mureung-ri, Nam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-1544-9053

Situated in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do, Mindungsan Mountain (1,118.8 meters) is an unusual site when compared to other national peaks. As hinted by its name's meaning "bare mountain," there are few trees near its summit. Locals also refer to it as Eoksaesan (silver grass) Mountain because of the waves of eulalia covering its sides. 

The mountain’s gradual slope offers an enjoyable trekking experience for hikers of all levels. In mid-October, waist-high silver grass is indeed everywhere, making it challenging for hikers to view the surrounding areas. Fortunately, certain spots near the peak offer breathtaking views of the gentle ridges and flowing hillsides.

Sogeumgang River [National Geopark] (소금강 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

Sogeumgang River [National Geopark] (소금강 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

15.5Km    2021-05-24

San 109-1. Morun-ri, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-1544-9053

Sogeumgang River is lined with high rock cliffs topped with lush forests. This section of river is so beautiful, it is called "Little Geumgangsan River," with Geumgangsan Mountain being known as the most breathtaking location in all of Korea. Visitors can find a number of famous rocks along the river.

Hwaam Mineral Spring [National Geopark] (화암약수 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

Hwaam Mineral Spring [National Geopark] (화암약수 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

16.2Km    2021-02-24

1330, Yaksu-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-560-2379

Hwaam Mineral Spring is one of the Eight Scenic Sites of Hwaam, and provides carbonated water said to be good for stomach discomfort and skin diseases. Interestingly, the stream water flowing through the valley is just regular freshwater. The reason for this is that the water passes through different types of rock on its way from the underground.

Hwaamdonggul Cave [Gangwon Paleozoic Geopark] (화암동굴 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

Hwaamdonggul Cave [Gangwon Paleozoic Geopark] (화암동굴 (강원고생대 국가지질공원))

17.4Km    2020-12-05

12, Hwaamdonggul-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon-do
+82-33-560-2379

Hwaamdonggul Cave was originally a gold mine that was commercially operated from 1922 to 1945 as the nation’s fifth largest gold mine. However, the cave was found to have natural stalactites, and was later developed into the only theme-based cave that combined gold and nature. The ticket booth and the cave's entrance is located apart from each other, and visitors can either hike or ride on monorail to the entrance point. Hwaamdonggul Cave is not only a tourist attraction but also an educational venue where visitors can learn about the subterranean ecology of a stalactite cave and the process of gold mining and refining.