A water-themed amusement park, originally intended to make use of an abandoned mine’s groundwater, is set to be constructed in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do. (Image courtesy of Boryeong City)
BORYEONG, Oct. 20 (Korea Bizwire) – A water-themed amusement park, originally intended to make use of an abandoned mine’s groundwater, is set to be constructed in Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do. Originally, the plan was to create a hydroponic facility in the abandoned mine.
However, concerns about potential flooding arising from drainage problems led to a change in plans. The project’s focus has now shifted to a water park located in a forest setting.
The water park, nestled within the picturesque Okmasan Forest in Boryeong, will feature a range of attractions, including water towers, waterslides, water buckets, refreshing water showers, and other playground equipment. The facility is scheduled to be up and running by the summer of 2025.
The new park will be supplied with cool groundwater sourced from the abandoned tunnels of the former mine. Notably, one of these abandoned tunnels will be transformed into a cold wind bath, offering visitors a unique experience of the chilly breezes rising from hundreds of meters below the surface.
Boryeong’s abandoned tunnels have been in the limelight since 2016 when they were repurposed as a tourist attraction. During this transformation, a mine experience facility was constructed within the abandoned mine, and it was subsequently equipped with various sculptures and videos celebrating the history of coal mining villages, mining shafts, coal extraction, and the light at the end of the day.
The utilization of abandoned mines is also gaining traction in the Taebaek region, a former mining hub. In July of this year, the Taebaek Chamber of Commerce submitted a proposal to the President’s Office and the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, advocating for the establishment of an “underground government data center” within Taebaek’s abandoned tunnels.
The proposal highlighted the potential advantages, including enhanced disaster preparedness and cost-effectiveness, as well as the prospects of creating high-quality job opportunities in the post-mining era. A feasibility study commissioned by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy in 2021 supported the idea, identifying the Jangseong Mine’s abandoned tunnels as the most suitable location for such a data center.
Furthermore, Taebaek boasts a theme park that creatively repurposes abandoned mine sites, particularly notable as the filming location for the popular drama “Descendants of the Sun.”
The park’s exhibition spaces within the abandoned tunnels showcase mesmerizing media art, using colorful lighting and sound to vividly depict the historical imagery of coal miners and the mine itself. It is a place where digital art breathes new life into the memories of the coal mining industry.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
