Hwaam Cave, Where a Gold Vein, 365 Steps, and Limestone Caverns Connect

A Gold Mine and Limestone Cave at Hwaam-ri San 248

Hwaam Cave is located at San 248, Hwaam-ri, Hwaam-myeon, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon State, and its street address is 12 Hwaamgul-gil, Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon State. It is described as Korea’s first themed cave combining a gold mine with a natural limestone cave.

The site was developed as a tourist attraction after an underground limestone cave was discovered during tunnel work at the Cheonpo Mine. Unlike an ordinary natural cave, it combines the gold mine’s work areas, the gold extraction process, and a natural cave tour in one course.

From a 1980 Monument to a 2019 Natural Monument

Hwaam Cave was designated Gangwon-do Monument No. 33 on February 26, 1980, and Natural Monument No. 557 on November 1, 2019. The current tour format reflects efforts to preserve and explain both the mining heritage and the limestone cave formations.

The total visitor route is approximately 1,803 meters long. The 515-meter upper tunnel recreates the process from discovering the gold vein to extracting gold ore, while the 676-meter lower tunnel lets visitors view industrial heritage and natural formations in sequence.

How to Avoid the 700-Meter Uphill Walk Behind the Ticket Office

The ticket office and cave entrance are separated from each other. Walking to the entrance requires a steep, winding uphill route of about 700 meters according to visitor reviews, while the monorail reduces the effort required to reach the entrance.

Visitors coming to Jeongseon from outside the area can take an intercity bus bound for Jeongseon from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal. The route runs five times a day and takes about three hours. Buses from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Gohan-Sabuk run 22 times a day and take about two and a half hours. The Jeongseon Arirang Train runs once a day on weekends and market days, connecting Jecheon Station, Yeongwol Station, Yemi Station, Mindungsan Station, Byeoreogok Station, Seonpyeong Station, Jeongseon Station, Najeon Station, and Auraji Station.

If you need a taxi in the Jeongseon area, you can use Jeongseon Arirang Call at 033-592-0000. Visitors arriving by car can use the free parking lot, which is listed as accommodating 24 large vehicles and 530 small vehicles.

Open from 09:30 to 18:00, but Actual Entry Closes Earlier

Hwaam Cave is open from 09:30 to 18:00. As confirmed in 2026, entry on foot closes at 16:00. The final monorail boarding time is 16:30, and ticket sales end 10 minutes earlier, so visitors arriving late in the afternoon may be unable to enter even during operating hours.

The regular closing day is every Wednesday. However, the cave may operate without a closing day during peak season, so it is safest to inquire at 033-560-3410 if you plan to visit on a Wednesday. The official website is https://jsimc.or.kr/.

The official estimated tour time is approximately one hour and 30 minutes. Visitor reviews note that there is no separate restroom midway through the tour, so it is advisable to use the restroom next to the entrance first.

The 7,000-Won Adult Admission and 3,000-Won Monorail Ride Are Separate

As confirmed in 2026, the regular individual adult admission fee is 7,000 won; middle and high school students, youths of the same age, and military personnel up to the rank of sergeant pay 5,500 won; and children pay 4,000 won. Group rates apply to groups of 30 or more, with a regular adult group fee of 6,500 won.

The monorail fee is separate from admission. Adults pay 3,000 won; middle and high school students, youths of the same age, and military personnel up to the rank of sergeant pay 2,000 won; and children pay 1,500 won. Children aged seven or younger and senior visitors aged 65 or older are exempt from the cave admission fee, but not from the monorail fee.

Tourists staying overnight in Jeongseon County may qualify for a discount by presenting a receipt and reservation details. Holders of a registered disability certificate, as well as national merit recipients and their spouses who carry the relevant documentation, are exempt from the cave admission fee.

A Cave Lake and Speleothems Beneath 365 Steps

There are 365 steps between the upper and lower tunnels. Reviews describe a metal staircase descending vertically along the Gold Vein 365 section, so the route may be demanding for visitors who have difficulty walking down stairs for an extended period.

In the lower natural cave, visitors can see limestone and stalactite formations, as well as a small chamber and a cave lake. Large flowstone formations, stalagmites, stalactites, cave flowers, curved stones, and cave corals are among the features that can be observed.

The cave temperature is approximately 10–13 degrees Celsius according to visitor reviews. A jacket may be necessary even in summer. Reviews also mention continuous stairs and narrow passages, so visitors should move slowly and watch for slippery surfaces.

A Theme Extending from Gold Vein 365 to the Goblin Train

The official tour themes are Nature, Historical Site, Gold Vein 365, Fairy-Tale Land, World of Gold, Wonders of the Great Outdoors, and Goblin Train. The upper 515 meters recreate the discovery of a gold vein and the extraction of gold ore, while the lower section focuses on natural cave formations.

Hwaam Cave is used not only for observing cave ecology but also as an educational site where visitors can learn about gold extraction and smelting. A performance area featuring cave characters is also available, providing explanatory elements for children, but the 365 steps and approximately one-hour-and-30-minute tour time should also be taken into account.

Facilities include restrooms for visitors, a souvenir shop, and food facilities. Nearby accommodations listed include Grimbarwi Hotel, with 27 rooms and a capacity of 120 guests, and Hwaam Park, with 18 rooms and a capacity of 72 guests.

Restrictions First-Time International Visitors Should Know

Hwaam Cave is not arranged so that visitors can enter the cave directly from the ticket office. Plan separately for walking and monorail transportation: the walking entry deadline is 16:00, and the final monorail boarding time is 16:30. Because the route includes stairs and narrow passages, the official guidance does not confirm whether wheelchairs and strollers can be used inside the cave.

The official page does not confirm whether general visitors are prohibited from taking photographs, whether payment is cash-only, whether English guidance or an audio guide is available, or the real-time monorail departure interval. Travelers who are not familiar with Korean should use the official website and call 033-560-3410 to ask about necessary details before setting out.

Parking is free, and there are restrooms at the facility, but reviews mention that there is no restroom midway through the tour and that the interior temperature is 10–13 degrees Celsius. Prepare a light jacket and nonslip shoes. Pregnant visitors and older adults should first assess whether they can manage the 365 steps, uphill sections, and narrow passages.