A Multi-Purpose Cultural Space of Wine and Art in a Repurposed Tunnel
Constant 17.5 Degrees Celsius... An All-Weather Summer Retreat
With an early heatwave and weekend monsoon forecasts expected to raise the discomfort index, Gwangyang City has recommended the 'Gwangyang Wine Cave' as a cool and pleasant destination to enjoy during the summer.
The Gwangyang Wine Cave is a romantic, multi-purpose cultural space where visitors can experience a variety of content, including a wine exhibition and sales area, an interactive zone, object mapping, media facade, and trick art foot bath experiences.
This is a typical 'Chamele-zone,' created by transforming the Seokjeong Tunnel?which was used for cargo transport from 1913 for about 70 years, with a total length of 301 meters, width of 4.5 meters, and height of 6 meters?into a cultural space while preserving its original structure and appearance. The stories embedded in the location itself are also intriguing.
'Chamele-zone' is a compound word combining 'chameleon,' which changes color according to circumstances, and 'zone,' meaning space. It refers to a space that has been repurposed after its original use or a space unaffected by the weather.
The Gwangyang Wine Cave welcomes visitors with an arched entrance reminiscent of the cave from 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves' and a trick art photo zone on the floor that creates the illusion of movement.
Upon entering the wine cave, which maintains a temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius year-round?cool even in the height of summer?the first thing that catches the eye is a wine bottle-shaped panel introducing the origins and history of wine.
After passing the ticket booth, visitors are led to a variety of wine and Gwangyang specialty product stalls, geometric object mapping reminiscent of Egyptian murals, and a cafeteria where wine can be enjoyed.
Following this, media artist Park Sanghwa's 'Garden of Contemplation' and 'Fantasia of Light' offer art genres that allow visitors to fully experience the mysterious aura of the cave's unique space.
'Garden of Contemplation' is a media art installation that projects beautiful seasonal landscapes with vibrant sound onto vertically layered, semi-transparent screens, leaving viewers in awe.
'Fantasia of Light' creates a fantastical moment as tens of thousands of lights and wine bottles, perforated and suspended as cuboid LED installations from the ceiling, are infinitely reflected in mirrors.
In addition, after passing through the trick art photo zone, wine cellar, and the tunnel of magical lights, visitors can enjoy a foot bath experience, relieving the fatigue of the day while taking in the subtle aroma of wine.
The Gwangyang Wine Cave is open year-round, every day from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The admission fee is 7,000 won for adults; 6,000 won for residents of Gwangyang, Yeosu, and Suncheon, as well as seniors, people with disabilities, and groups of 20 or more; and 5,000 won for children from 36 months old up to high school students. Various package deals are also available, including admission plus wine, admission plus wine foot bath, and admission plus wine and foot bath.
Kim Miran, head of the Tourism Division, stated, "The Gwangyang Wine Cave, which maintains a constant temperature of 17.5 degrees Celsius throughout the year, is an all-weather, multi-purpose cultural space unaffected by heatwaves, monsoons, fine dust, or severe cold. It is the perfect summer retreat where you can enjoy wine, media art, trick art, and foot baths all in one place."
She added, "With the monsoon forecast for this weekend, I highly recommend a trip to Gwangyang, which is full of unique spaces that add specialness and new inspiration to everyday life, including not only the Gwangyang Wine Cave but also the Jeonnam Provincial Art Museum, Gwangyang Art Warehouse, and Inseori Park."
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