Top 9 Caves in South Korea

The summit stone of Cheonwangbong Peak, along with the statue of the Virgin Mary of Anrae, is believed to be the location of Jirisan's Cheonwangdae, but this has not been confirmed. Collecting the water dripping from the rocks within Cheonwanggul Cave could likely provide enough drinking water for one person's ascetic training.

The South Korean military was informed about the third tunnel by a North Korean defector, Kim Bu-Seong, who fled the communist state on September 5, 1974. He claimed to have measured the tunnel from a large poplar tree in the southern demilitarized zone. 107 PVC cylinder pipes with a diameter of 7.5 cm were then filled with water and installed every 2 meters along the expected invasion route to the South. Three years later, on June 10, 1978, one of the cylinder pipes exploded, sending water shooting into the air. Therefore, five more cylinder pipes were installed nearby, and South Korea was finally able to penetrate the tunnel that North Korea intended to use for the military invasion. This interceptor tunnel, which took three months to build, was used to locate the invasion route tunnel. If you descend 300 meters, you will come across the North Korean infiltration tunnel. The third tunnel is arched and has a total length of 1,635 meters. It lies 73 meters below the surface and is 2 meters high and wide. When first discovered, this tunnel extended 1,200 meters north from the military demarcation line and 435 meters south. Today, visitors can explore up to 265 meters of the tunnel. At the end is the concrete blockade of the third tunnel, which was installed to prevent use by the North. The distance from the third blockade to the military demarcation line is 170 meters. There is evidence that this tunnel was intended for the Southern invasion. First, the tunnel is tilted approximately 0.003 degrees to the north, which allows water to drain to the north. Second, the dynamite holes in the wall were intended to explode bedrock to the south. Although no coal was ever found in this area, traces were left on the rock face to disguise the tunnel as an abandoned mine.

Take a small detour to visit the cave, on the way up go to the right of the hermitage and follow the path.

Beyond the 1275 peak, below the Noinbong peak, a small stream flows... spring water

Although it is a short section, it is highly difficult as you have to climb steep iron stairs to get to Geungganggul Cave. However, the entrance to Geumganggul Cave is a viewpoint where you can see the Cheonbuldong Valley and the surrounding mountains at a glance.

Towards the end of the Pacific War, during the Japanese pecupation of Korea, the Gungsan Tunnel was excavated by the "National Protection Corps," which comprised of forcibly mobilized nearby local residents. It was used to store war supplies such as weapons and ammunition, monitor the Gimpo Airfield, and as military headquarters during air strikes. The underground tunnel was discovered in 2008 following multiple reports by local residents. During construction to establish an experience-based exhibition hall, massive rockslides occurred in parts of the tunnel, which led to the installation of safety apparatus that prevented public entry. It was maintained as a closed tunnel until an exhibition hall was established in 2018 lo view the interior of the tunnel from the entranco. In 2022, it was selected as a Seoul Future Heritage in recognition of its historic and cultural value.

Could you believe that in the old times, a monk was living in the cave below those rocks ? Ensuring deep connection with nature for sure…

We access this third summit by passing under a cavity and rocks and climbing on the other side, very original!