5,542  |
照片) 光明洞窟 |
[english.visitkorea.or.kr] The name Gwangmyeong, which was given to this city located just southwest of Seoul, means “prosperous life.” Its natural environment, particularly its incredible geological features, attracts Seoulites to the city both for short day trips and also extended trips to escape the midsummer heat.
Gwangmyeong is easily reachable via public transportation. When going by bus from Incheon International Airport, it takes approximately 1 hour and a half, while it only takes about 35 minutes by subway from Seoul Station to Gwangmyeong Station. The city recently gained more popularity by becoming the home to large shopping centers like IKEA, Costco, Lotte Premium Outlets, and more.
Step into an underground world!
 |
照片) 光明洞窟 |
Gwangmyeong Cave
Gwangmyeong Cave, an abandoned mine spanning 7.9 km in length and reaching 275 m in depth, is different from other caves due to its unique location in the center of the metropolitan area of Seoul, thus becoming a top natural attraction for visitors not only from surrounding suburbs, but from Seoul as well.
Although it went through a huge makeover in 2011 to reopen with added safety structures, it was originally established in the early 20th century when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule. The cave was founded for industrial mining mainly to excavate gold used for war supplies. Despite its long, heartbreaking history, it has now successfully been turned into a living museum, exhibiting exotic and mysterious geological materials. The cave became particularly popular after an episode of the TV show Running Man was filmed in its tunnels.
 |
Wine Cave
The cave will offer you more than just a mere history lesson. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to partake in wine tasting, with 78 different varieties of quality wine across eight different Korean vineyards! Once you’re done tasting, you can even purchase the wine you liked to take home after your journey through Gwangmyeong Cave.
 |
Photo: Aisha Statue (left) / Mother Earth Sculpture (right) |
Most parts of the cave have been kept intact since the mine was shut down at the end of the Korean War, and there are many geological features and thematic areas set up in the cave, such as the Golden Waterfall, the Golden Path and the Golden Palace.
The main highlight of these exclusive items spread throughout the tunnels is the golden statue of Aisha. Ancient legend has it that if you touch the pieces of gold coins sitting in her hand, you will be granted a prosperous and happy future. Therefore, there is usually a line of visitors in front of the statue hoping to see if the legend is true.
Thrift shopping in Gwangmyeong!
 |
Gwangmyeong Traditional Market
Listed as the 7th largest traditional market in Korea, the Gwangmyeong Traditional Market houses over 400 stores and vendors selling products like specialty tteok (Korean rice cake), clothing shops, fruit, vegetables, and other commodities. Also, delicious and affordable street food is always available for visitors to indulge in. These foods, which represent the true local flavors of the area, include jeon (Korean pancake), dakgangjeong (sweet and sour chicken), and various hot noodle soups.
Shoppers to this market often come here to fill up their appetites before and after a city tour, and other times to take shelter from sudden rain showers. The roof of the market is in the shape of a dome, which adds an interesting modern feature, contrasting to the overall mood of its traditional atmosphere.
 |
Lotte Premium Outlets
Lotte Premium Outlets in Gwangmyeong is a shopper’s heaven, with more than 300 designer brands, as well as a cultural complex that has performances, photo zones, and outdoor parks that cater to groups of various kinds. Teddy bear statues and other cute and enjoyable installments make it a great place for families to bring their children to enjoy the atmosphere while parents are focused on shopping.
Visitors from overseas are offered free vouchers for refreshments, which are available on the 3rd floor of the main building in the event hall. Take note that some restrictions may apply when using your coupon to purchase beverages, and those sales promotions only last until August 2015.
More Info
☞ Directions:
Seoul Station (Seoul Subway Line 1) → Gwangmyeong Station (Time: Approx. 35 min)
Yongsan Station → (via KTX)→ Gwangmyeong Station (Time: Approx. 13 min / Fare: 8,400 won)
Incheon International Airport Station → (via KTX) → Gwangmyeong Station (Time: Approx. 1 hr and 10 min / Fare: 14,900 won)
Incheon International Airport → (via airport shuttle bus 6004) → Gwangmyeong Station (Time: Approx. 1 hr and 20 min / Fare: 10,000 won)
☞ Website: Gwangmyeong Tourism tour.gm.go.kr (Korean only)
☞1330 Travel Hotline: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Related News/Photo (12)
#Tag
Comment 0
0
아
0