Suryohan Yeoncheon Jaein Waterfall Designated as Scenic Site

Various Geological Structures... Numerous Natural Monuments Also Confirmed

Yeoncheon Jaein Waterfall, renowned for its beautiful scenery, will be managed as a nationally designated cultural asset scenic site. The Cultural Heritage Administration announced on the 13th that it will finalize the designation after collecting opinions from various sectors for a month and undergoing a review by the Cultural Heritage Committee.

Yeoncheon Jaein Waterfall is a place where basalt columnar joints, refreshing water streams, and the terrain leading through a gorge to the Hantan River harmonize. The name "Jaein" originates from the love story of Jaein (才人), a clown skilled in tightrope walking, and his wife. Jaein was tricked by the local magistrate and fell to his death while tightrope walking above the waterfall. His wife pretended to serve the magistrate but bit his nose firmly. People who valued her chastity called this village "Komun-ri," which is now Gorum-ri, Yeoncheon-eup, Yeoncheon-gun.

Various geological structures can also be observed at Jaein Waterfall. In particular, the columnar joints were formed by the erosion of basalt, which solidified from lava during the Cenozoic era. Recognized for its academic value, it was designated as part of the UNESCO Hantan River Global Geopark in 2020. In the waterfall pools where water collects in depressions on the ground, natural monuments such as the Korean dark sleeper (Eoreumchi) and endangered wild species like the stone loach (Dolsang-eo) inhabit. Various natural monuments including the Blakiston's fish owl, otters, and Korean goral are also observed, highlighting its ecological importance.