From a 1912 Gold Mine to a 2 km Cultural Cave: Exploring Gwangmyeong Cave in 60 Minutes
Gwangmyeong Cave was once the Siheung Mine, a gold, silver, copper, and zinc mine on Mount Gahak, which Gwangmyeong City transformed into a cultural space in 2011. In the cave, where the average temperature is 12°C, visitors can explore traces of the mine, a gold-themed exhibition, an underground lake, and even a wine cave along an approximately 2 km route in 50–60 minutes.
I’ve been here?
Your check-in helps the next traveler.
15 people viewed this week Be the first
One tap — no writing needed
7.8 km Left by the Abandoned Mine, from the 1912 Siheung Mine to Gwangmyeong Cave in 2011
Gwangmyeong Cave was formerly known as the Siheung Mine. Records show that the Siheung Mine was established in Gahak-ri on May 2, 1903, and gold, silver, copper, and zinc were mined there from 1912, when the mining rights were registered, until 1972. The total length of the tunnels is 7.8 km, with a depth of 275 m. Although the mine consisted of nine levels, from Level 1 to Underground Level 7, only about 2 km is currently open to visitors.
This site was also a place of resource exploitation and labor during the Japanese colonial period. Materials from Gwangmyeong City describe the Siheung Mine labor movement of 1961–1962 as the first labor movement in the Gwangmyeong area. After heavy rains in 1972 caused mineral waste to wash away, resulting in soil contamination and compensation issues, the mine was closed. From 1978, it was used as a warehouse to store and age salted shrimp from Sorae Port. Gwangmyeong City purchased the land in 2011 and opened it to citizens in August, then opened the 350-seat Cave Arts Center in June 2013.
From the Wind Road to the Wine Cave: The Order of the 2 km Visitor Route
The standard route begins at the ticket office and enters the cave through the Wind Road, continuing through Wormhole Plaza, the Space of Light, the Cave Arts Center, Aqua World, the Golden Road, the Golden Waterfall, the Golden Palace, the Golden Chamber, the Underground Lake, the Modern History Museum, the Cave Botanical Garden, and Gwangmyeong Wine Cave before exiting through Entrance 2. According to Gwangmyeong City’s guidelines, the recommended viewing time is 50–60 minutes. Since the walking distance is about 2 km, allowing approximately one hour is appropriate if you are not adding performances or outdoor activities.
The cave is not a natural cave but a space that uses the tunnels of a mine, so it differs in character from cave tours focused on stalactites. Illuminated and media-art spaces, gold-themed facilities, and exhibitions on the industrial history of the mine are connected along one route. In particular, the Modern History Museum helps visitors understand the periods when the site was a gold mine and a salted-shrimp storage facility, while the Wine Cave is an ancillary facility encountered near the exit after the tour.
Visiting Hours of 09:00–18:00 and Monday Closure: Numbers to Check Before Buying Tickets
Gwangmyeong Cave is open from 09:00 to 18:00 Tuesday through Sunday, and the final admission time listed in Gwangmyeong City’s tourism information is 17:00. The official visitor information states that guests must enter by one hour before the end of the visit period after purchasing an admission ticket. Therefore, if you want to spend 50–60 minutes inside the cave, it is safest to finish purchasing your ticket by 17:00 at the latest. The cave is closed every Monday; when Monday is a public holiday, it is closed the following day.
Admission costs 10,000 won for adults, 5,000 won for teenagers, and 3,000 won for children; children under 36 months enter free. Discounts for Gwangmyeong residents and fees for separate experience programs have different conditions, so it is advisable to check the latest notices on the official website before purchasing tickets. For inquiries, contact the Gwangmyeong Cave Visitor Center at 070-4277-8902. The official website is https://www.gm.go.kr/cv.
Buses 17 and 77 from KTX Gwangmyeong Station and Cheolsan Station, and 10 Minutes from Parking Lot 3
For public transportation, the official information recommends taking Bus 17 from KTX Gwangmyeong Station or Cheolsan Station on Line 7 and getting off at the “Gwangmyeong Cave” stop. Gwangmyeong City’s community shuttle bus 77 also stops at “Gwangmyeong Cave.” If you take Bus 11-2, get off at Public Parking Lot 3 and walk approximately 10 minutes toward Entrance 2.
For drivers, set the destination to 142 Gahak-ro 85beon-gil, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do. At Parking Lots 1 and 2 on the west side, parking costs 4,000 won for large vehicles, 3,000 won for medium and small vehicles, and 1,500 won for compact cars. At Public Parking Lot 3 on the east side, the fee is 600 won for the first 30 minutes and 200 won for every additional 10 minutes. Information states that it takes approximately 15 minutes to walk from Parking Lot 1 to the cave entrance via the gentle path, or about 5 minutes via the stairway. Visitors with strollers, wheelchairs, or luggage should therefore allow plenty of time for the transfer.
An Average Temperature of 12°C and Humidity of 60–99%: Why You Need a Light Outer Layer Even in Summer
The average temperature inside Gwangmyeong Cave is approximately 12°C year-round, with humidity ranging from 60 to 99%. Even in midsummer, it is best to bring a light outer layer and wear nonslip shoes. People sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity may need to adjust their visit time. Because of differences between tunnel levels, some sections require walking up and down stairs.
Food and beverages cannot be brought into the cave, and smoking and bringing pets are prohibited. Strollers cannot be taken inside and must be left at the entrance before entering. Hiking sticks must be folded and placed in a bag, and visitors may not enter areas restricted for safety reasons. Visitors should first check the separate information in the official visitor guide regarding accessibility facilities and routes for wheelchair users.
The 350-Seat Cave Arts Center and the Memory of 3,000 Drums of Salted Shrimp
Gwangmyeong Cave did not become a tourist attraction immediately after the mine closed. Salted shrimp from Sorae Port began arriving in 1978, and Gwangmyeong City records state that approximately 3,000 drums of salted shrimp were stored in the cave each year. The cave’s low temperature provided the background for its use in storage and aging, making it an example of how the capital region’s kimchi-making culture and seafood distribution through Incheon’s Sorae Port extended to the abandoned mine on Gahaksan Mountain.
After reopening in 2011, the site incorporated performances and exhibitions rather than preserving only the mine’s history. The Cave Arts Center opened in June 2013 with 350 seats. Along with spaces on the current route such as the Golden Waterfall, Underground Lake, and Wine Cave, it reinterprets the industrial heritage of the abandoned mine as a cultural tourism space. Performances and special exhibitions are not held continuously, so visitors should check the official notices separately for events scheduled on their visit date.
Groups of 10 or More: Book One Week in Advance; Why Morning Admission Is Best for Avoiding Crowds
According to the cultural tourism interpreter service, groups of 10 or more must make a reservation at least one week in advance for a group tour. For reservations, call 02-2680-6857. Individual visitors can enter without booking a separate guided tour, but special exhibitions, activities, and performances may have separate fees or operating days, so visitors should not assume that the cave admission ticket provides access to everything.
Final admission to Gwangmyeong Cave is at 17:00, and the basic tour takes 50–60 minutes. Therefore, if you also plan to visit the outdoor Lascaux Exhibition Hall experience or the food court at Parking Lot 1, arriving in the morning or early afternoon makes it easier to plan your route. The food court on the second floor of the Strawberry Smart Farm at Parking Lot 1 is open Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 to 17:30, while Cafe Cave next to Ticket Office 1 is open Tuesday through Sunday from 09:00 to 18:00.
Before You Go
- Address
- 142 Gahak-ro 85beon-gil, Gwangmyeong-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Hours
- Tuesday–Sunday 09:00–18:00, final admission 17:00
- Closed
- Every Monday (if Monday is a public holiday, closed the following day)
- Admission
- Adults 10,000 won, teenagers 5,000 won, children 3,000 won, free for children under 36 months
- Phone
- 070-4277-8902
- Official site
- https://www.gm.go.kr/cv
- Transport
- Take Bus 17 from KTX Gwangmyeong Station or Cheolsan Station on Line 7 and get off at Gwangmyeong Cave. Bus 77 also stops at Gwangmyeong Cave. Bus 11-2 stops at Public Parking Lot 3, followed by approximately a 10-minute walk toward Entrance 2.
- Parking
- Parking Lots 1 and 2: 4,000 won for large vehicles, 3,000 won for medium and small vehicles, 1,500 won for compact cars. Public Parking Lot 3: 600 won for the first 30 minutes, then 200 won for every additional 10 minutes.
- Time needed
- 50–60 minutes
- Accessibility
- Check the official guide separately for wheelchair-accessible facilities and visitor routes. Strollers cannot be taken inside the cave; leave them at the entrance before entering.
The information above is current as of the time of writing. Please check the official information again before visiting.
Places
Nearby Attractions 1
-
1
Food & Dining 5
-
2
Ttoayo Jjamppong -
3
-
4
-
5
Dwaeji Jip -
6
Events in This Area
Festivals in This Area
More Travel Guides in This Area
Travel Guide
A Meal Selecting Wraps at the Entrance to Sammaksa Temple, Anyang Ssamdoduk
Travel Guide
Anyang Jeongga Samgyetang, continuing for over 40 years in the alley of Anyang 1st Street
Travel Guide
Gwangmyeong Traditional Market: From a Five-Day Market in the 1970s to a Permanent Market with Over 400 Shops
Travel Guide
![Han So-hee, Radiant Beauty After Going Blonde… Unmatched Aura [N Shot]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1788056981544_83c8b0b3_news_66e33b45-cf84-4724-87d9-d1340820437d.jpg)
![BOYNEXTDOOR’s Sungho selected as the new MC of ‘Show! Music Core’ [Official Statement]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908108799_a3cc378e_news_9a3cd086-931c-4b58-b977-4a5ac371238a.jpg)
![[Photo] KISS OF LIFE’s Natty Shows Off Her Glamorous Figure](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908133694_557864f4_news_016e92e2-55c1-4838-9702-eb03b2ad56ec.jpg)
![Hyeri “Cute Wink” [★Photo]](https://kotourlive-images.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/news/1787908093800_c9b7529f_news_9274613b-0b8f-4076-a430-25a1545a679d.jpg)