Hyeopjae Gul - Ssangyong Gul

Hyopchae Cave - Ssangyong Cave


Useful Information

Location: In Hallim Park. From Jeju City use Hwy 12 west, 33 km to Hallim.
Open: Summer: 8:30-18:30. Winter: 8:30-17:30. [2005]
Fee: Adults Won 5,000, Children (12-18) Won 4,000, Children (0-12) Won 3,000, Soldiers Won 4,000, Seniors Won 3,000.
Groups: Adults Won 4,000, Children (12-18) Won 3,000, Children (0-12) Won 2,500, Soldiers Won 3,000, Seniors Won 2,500.
[2005]
Classification: Speleologylava tube
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=17-18 °C.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography: Greg Middleton (2004): Jeju Island Lava Caves - World Heritage?, South Korea 2003. Journal of the Sydney Speleological Society 2004 Vol 48 (6) 185-199
Address: Hyopchae Cave and Ssangyong Cave, Hyeopjae-ri, Hallim-up, Bukjeju-gun, Jeju-do, Tel: +82-64-796-0001, Fax: +82-64-796-0006. E-mail: contact
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

1992 discovered by Kim Choon Hong.
2007 inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

These two caves are open to the public as part of the Hallim Park tourist complex which also includes gardens, aviaries and a recreated traditional village. The caves are roomy with paved walkways.

The caves were formed by the eruption of Mt. Halla, together with over 20 other caves in the area. Connected they were about 17 km long, which would make them one of the longest lava tubes in the world. However, the caves are not connected any more, as they are rather old. There is even a theory that they may have been once below sea level, as there are fossilized seashells, including abalone shells, found in the caves.

The most unusual feature are calcite speleothems, stalactites, stalagmites and soda straw, which are unusual in a lava cave. The lava does not contain limestone, soe there must be a different source. A possible solution is the nearby sea. If the cave once was below sea level, there might be limestone rich biogene sea sediments above.

A almost typical sight for a lava tube, still seldom tio see, are lava stalactites. When the lava still flows, molten rock which swashed at the ceiling drops back down and forms stalactite like structures. When it slowly solidifies, it keeps this form.