Show Mines of the South Korea: Hwalok Cave

Hwalok Cave - Hwarok Cave - Jade Cave

Useful Information

Location:	26 Mokbeoran-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. (36.961458, 128.007032)
Open:	Mid-JUL to Mid-AUG Tue-Sun 9:30-19. Mid-AUG to Mid-JUL Tue-Sun 9:30-18:30. [2022]
Fee:	Adults KRW 7,000, Children (6-17) KRW 6,000, Children (0-5) KRW 5,000. [2022]
Classification:
Light:	LED Lighting Coloured Light
Dimension:	L=57 km, VR=711 m, T=11-15 °C.
Guided tours:	L=2.5 km, St=0.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	충북 충주시 목벌안길 26. Hwalok Cave, 26 Mokbeoran-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Tel: +82-43-848-0503.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1900	deposit discovered.
1922	mine opened during the Japanese colonial period.

Description

충주 활옥동굴 (chungju hwal-ogdong-gul, Chungju Hwalok Cave) is despite the name cave a mine. And as weird as the name is also the mined rock. According to their websited it is white jade, talc, and dolomite. The problem is, that this three rocks have completely different origins and conditions for their formation. So the existence of one actually makes the existence of any other in the vicinity extremely unlikely. We guess this mine is actually a unicorn, which transforms simple rock into whatever you need by touching it with its horn. Or they simply mixed up the terms.

Talc with high purity is used as a raw material for cosmetics and baby powder. Talc with low purity is used as a lubricant, shoe polish, and toiletries. Definitely.

However, the mine is actually an underground kayak experience. you have to walk 800 m to a wine cellar and jetty. Here is the point where you have to decide if you continue drinking wine, or get wet in a kayak. Participants gear up with a helmet and life jacket and hop into a clear kayak. A clear kayak is made of see-through plastic. We are not sure why this is good, but they say, one could see the school of fish that live in the mine. We are not convinced, the water is actually not very clear.