Legacies Passed Down

Talc, the mine¡¯s chief mineral, is highly versatile. If highly pure, it can be used in cosmetics or baby powder, while talc of low purity is used in household goods such as lubricants and shoe polish. In the Joseon Dynasty, talc was used as a medicinal material.

Mining stopped after the mine closed, but white jade is still a valuable asset of the Jade Cave. A ¡°therapy zone¡± was created using talc at the entrance of the cave. The single-person furnace made of talc and red clay lets visitors take a sitz bath is quite popular, especially in the chilly winter. Jade Cave¡¯s minerals are transformed into souvenirs, such as soap made of jade and bracelets and necklaces made of red jade.

The old 150, 300, and 500-horsepower winches are another legacy passed down by the mine. Particularly eye-catching is the 500-horsepower winch, displayed on one side of the cave. The giant machines, and the long tunnel along the ceiling of the mine that was used to transport extracted materials, testify to the site¡¯s history.

In the middle of the cave, there is a disused railway, once used to bring miners deep underground. There¡¯s also a model of a mining scene so visitors can experience the mine¡¯s past. Currently, Jade Cave is developing a hands-on program to explore the depths of the mine by rail.

The cave is not the only surviving legacy of the mind. The cafe in front of the cave used to be the factory that ground the excavated talc. The cafe also preserves rebar, slogan signs and other artifacts from the past.

Sculptures dazzle brightly throughout the cave.

Only Possible in Caves

Though it was artificially created, a cave is a cave. Jade Cave¡¯s intrinsic properties are properly utilized to transform a dark, damp space into a place full of joy.

Jade Cave is lit with lights and sculptures. In every corner, sculptures of flowers, tigers, flamingos and other subjects shine in the dark, awing visitors. In particular, the area decorated with an ¡°ocean¡± theme is popular with children.

Caves benefit from constant temperatures all year round, a characteristic the former mine puts to good use. At the center of the cave is a ¡°water wasabi (wasabi grown in clear-flowing water) smart farm.¡± Water wasabi is a good crop to grow in caves since they are sensitive to temperature. In particular, Jade Cave has abundant cold and clean water, allowing for the cultivation of water wasabi, a rarity in Korea. You can taste wasabi ice cream made with wasabi grown here at an outdoor cafe.

Wasabi isn¡¯t the only thing benefitting from the constant temperature of the cave. Jade Cave is also used as a wine cellar. There are wine tastings, and you can enjoy the wine from Chungju¡¯s famous apples at a cafe near the end of the cave. This space, which is brightly lit and decorated with beautiful flowers and trees, contrasts sharply with the dark paths of the cave.

Sculptures dazzle brightly throughout the cave

While you can find many of these things at other tourist caves, Jade Cave has some unique attractions of its own. The highlight of Jade Cave is the kayak experience center. Particular popular are the transparent kayaks. Visitors paddle transparent-bottomed kayaks around a lake in the cave created by the accumulation of underground rock water. Even if you don¡¯t go kayaking, the lake is well worth visiting to watch the silver trout and sturgeon leisurely swimming in the water.

The Luminescent Mural Zone, located just before the cave exit, is also popular. Visitors will find many luminescent murals, dazzling brightly amid thick trees and vines. Only the tunnel¡¯s darkness makes this scene possible. There¡¯s a drum inside the cave, and as you quietly listen to the sound of mischievous children beating the drum, it¡¯s almost as if a sacred ritual is being performed. This is the cave¡¯s most popular photo spot, thanks to the exotic atmosphere.