The mine was originally opened in 1912 during the Japanese colonial period for mineral extraction.
During the Korean War, the mine served as a place of refuge for local residents.
The cave contains a dedicated Wine Cave where hundreds of local Korean wines are stored and available for tasting.
The interior includes a 41-meter-deep underground lake located at the deepest accessible point.
The 'Golden Tunnel' is lined with LED installations meant to symbolize prosperity and gold.
Abandoned for over 40 years, the mine was purchased by Gwangmyeong City in 2011 to be repurposed as a cultural venue.
The cave is estimated to have produced approximately 52 kilograms of gold during its operational years.
An indoor waterfall, the Golden Falls, was created using natural groundwater collected within the mine shafts.
Gwangmyeong Cave is a former gold, silver, and copper mine transformed into a multidisciplinary cultural space. It is the only tourist-accessible cave within the metropolitan Seoul area. The site features an underground lake, a golden waterfall, and a LED light gallery built into the rock walls. The cave maintains a constant year-round temperature between 10 and 12 degrees Celsius. It serves as a dedicated cellar for Korean wines, showcasing domestic vintages in natural climate-controlled conditions. A portion of the cave is dedicated to the history of the workers who extracted minerals here between 1912 and 1972. Visitors navigate through a series of themed tunnels, including a horror-themed zone and a marine life exhibition area. The facility operates as a repurposed industrial heritage site integrated with modern light displays.
The glowing LED tunnels and the Golden Waterfall offer the most distinct lighting for photography.
Bring a light jacket, as the internal temperature remains chilly regardless of the outside weather.
Wear comfortable, non-slip walking shoes to navigate the metal stairs and occasionally damp stone paths.
Visit the wine tasting area toward the end of your route to enjoy locally produced Korean fruit wines.
Do not visit during major Korean public holidays unless prepared for significant queues; avoid wearing thin-soled sandals.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume to respect the acoustics of the cave; do not touch the light installations or rock formations.
