History and Experiences at Taehwagang Cavepia: Ulsan Namsan’s Four Artificial Caves

In July 2017, Namsan Cave Changed from a Military Supply Warehouse into a Cultural Space

Taehwagang Cavepia is a space that uses four artificial caves created during the Japanese colonial period and known as “Namsan Caves.” The caves are presumed to have been used at the time as warehouses for Japanese military supplies and provisions, revealing both the modern and contemporary history of Ulsan and the exploitation during the colonial period.

Nam-gu, Ulsan, began promoting the renovation of the cave interiors in August 2015, along with the installation of connecting passage boxes between the caves and an underground connection leading to the Taehwagang River. The project, which invested 15 billion won, also renovated 19,800㎡ of nearby waterfront space, and Taehwagang Cavepia opened in July 2017.

Ulsan’s Colonial History to Read First in the 60 m Cave 1

Visitors are introduced to a route that begins in Cave 1. Cave 1, which is 60 m long, contains the Cave History Museum, with exhibitions presenting daily life in Ulsan during the Japanese colonial period and the history of forced labor and exploitation.

The history museum includes exhibits symbolizing exploitation, such as sculptures depicting forced labor and containers for pine-tar oil extracted from pine trees. This is not simply a place to view an old tunnel; it is a section where visitors can understand why the caves on Namsan were created and how they are preserved today.

The Milky Way Tunnel in the 42 m Cave 2 Has a Completely Different Atmosphere from the History Museum

Cave 2 is 42 m long and is designed around the theme of a “Cave Adventure.” A mirror cave and the brightly lit Milky Way Tunnel follow one another, and illuminated animal models such as tigers, deer, and owls are installed, creating a visual atmosphere very different from the historical exhibits in Cave 1.

The viewing section connecting Cave 1 through Cave 3 is described as a total of 164 m. Visitors are guided along a one-way route, moving forward from the entrance and encountering the themes of each cave in sequence. Therefore, rather than returning to the previous section, it is more suitable to finish taking photos and viewing each cave before moving on to the next space.

The Cave Plaza Under Glass and the 62 m Sketch Aquarium

There is a Cave Plaza between Cave 2 and Cave 3. The space is covered with transparent glass beneath a ground-level fountain, allowing visitors to see the fountain’s water from below while sunlight also passes through the glass. Although it is underground, this is a point where visitors encounter a scene different from that of a completely enclosed exhibition room.

Cave 3 is the 62 m-long “Cave Sketch Aquarium.” When visitors scan fish drawings they have made themselves, the images appear in a video on a large screen. A presentation featuring the legendary appearance site of a whale has also been installed. The connecting section from Cave 1 to Cave 3 is 164 m.

The 16 m Cave 4 and Experience Facilities Added Since 2022

Cave 4 is 16 m long and was created as a seasonal event space. The 2017 plan included a spring LED flower garden, a summer haunted house, an autumn art gallery, and a winter light-and-ice concept, but the current operation of seasonal programs in Cave 4 has not been separately confirmed.

Two hundred million won was invested in facility improvements in 2022, and an indoor cave escape room, insect experience center, whale hologram, and unmanned café were installed. The cave escape room is a mission-based experience involving passing through green lasers in a dark space, while the insect experience zone introduces opportunities to see and touch rhinoceros beetles and larvae.

Tickets and Visiting Conditions Before Visiting from 09:00 to 18:00

Taehwagang Cavepia’s operating hours are listed as 09:00–18:00. Some sources list admission fees of 2,000 won for adults, 1,500 won for teenagers and military personnel, and 1,000 won for children, but the current status of the official fee table has not been confirmed. Closing days are listed in some sources as every Monday, January 1, and the day of Seollal and Chuseok.

The visitor inquiry number is listed as 052-226-0077, and the telephone number for the Nam-gu Tourism Division in Ulsan is 052-226-5374. The official website is the Taehwagang Cavepia page on the Nam-gu, Ulsan tourism website: https://www.ulsannamgu.go.kr/tour/contents/photoTrip/cave.do. Reviews and articles mention that viewing takes approximately 30 minutes or more. Since there are reportedly no restrooms inside the caves, it is advisable to use a restroom before entering.

• After admission, visitors are instructed to wear a safety helmet in Cave 1.
• The interior height of the caves is introduced as a maximum of 4.2 m.
• Information on photography restrictions, cash payment, and the availability of English guidance and an audio guide has not been confirmed.

How to Get from Taehwagang Station and KTX Ulsan Station to 306 Namsan-ro

The address is 306 Namsan-ro, Nam-gu, Ulsan. From Taehwagang Station, a departure point for visitors from outside Ulsan, buses 523, 713, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001 are listed as routes traveling to the Taehwagang National Garden–Donggang Hospital stop. From KTX Ulsan Station, buses 523, 1733, 5001, 5003, and 5004 are listed as routes heading toward the same stop.

From the intercity and express bus terminals, buses 417, 523, 713, 723, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001 are listed as routes that get off at the Taehwagang National Garden–Donggang Hospital stop. Routes departing from Ulsan Airport are also included in the official transportation information, but the walking distance and travel time from the stop to the Cavepia entrance, as well as bus intervals, have not been confirmed. Foreign visitors coming for the first time should enter both “Taehwagang Cavepia” and the stop name into a map app to check the final walking section.

• From Taehwagang Station: buses 523, 713, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001
• From KTX Ulsan Station: buses 523, 1733, 5001, 5003, and 5004
• From the intercity and express bus terminals: buses 417, 523, 713, 723, 763, 1115, 1733, and 9001

Combining the 55-Space Free Parking Lot with a Taehwagang Walk

The Cavepia parking lot has 55 spaces and is listed as free. As alternative parking, the Taehwagang Observatory parking lot at 223 Namsan-ro in Nam-gu has 28 spaces and is listed as free, while the Taehwagang Riverside Public Parking Lot at 1512-2 Sinjeong-dong in Nam-gu has 248 spaces but is paid. The operating hours of the parking lots and the specific fee table for the paid parking lot have not been confirmed.

Outside the caves, a 19,800㎡ waterfront area with an artificial waterfall and Meeting Plaza has been created. A traditional fairy-tale story path, Four Seasons Garden, Sansuyu Path, and traditional-play equipment boxes are also introduced. There is also an explanation that the site was designed to connect to the Taehwagang walking trail through an underground passage from the underground plaza, making it possible to continue with a riverside walk after viewing the caves.

Three Things Foreign Visitors Coming for the First Time May Easily Miss

The cave interiors were described in a 2018 article as cool spaces even without air conditioning, and in 2022 reports as spaces maintaining approximately 24°C even in midsummer. Therefore, bringing a light outer layer may be convenient even on hot days, but this temperature is based on reports from specific periods and does not guarantee the current indoor temperature.

Visitors are instructed to wear safety helmets, and reviews state that there are no restrooms inside the caves. Since accessibility for wheelchairs and strollers throughout the entire route, photography restrictions, and the availability of English guidance and audio guides have not been confirmed, travelers for whom these conditions are important should first contact visitor inquiries at 052-226-0077. Since the route involves moving through all four caves in sequence, this may not be suitable for visitors expecting to select only a short exhibition room.

On June 17, 2022, visitor numbers reached 1,394, the highest weekend figure in the previous three years. That year, there were 5,392 visitors in March and 10,817 in May. Reports also state that approximately 110,000 people visited during the ten days following the opening in 2017. Therefore, on weekends, visitors may wish to consider public transportation, keeping in mind that the 55-space free parking lot could fill quickly.