[Digging Travel] The Upside-Down Underground Colosseum: Hwangdeung Quarry

Landscapes of Industry and Sensation at Iksan Hwangdeung Quarry
80 Meters Underground: Rediscovering the Passage of Stone
How the Quarry Resonates with the Sensibilities of the Young Generation

Sometimes, when I visit a mountain temple and gaze at ancient pagodas and stone Buddhas, I imagine: If Korea’s geological structure had been rich in marble rather than granite, would the face of the Seokguram Buddha look very different? How might the towering stone pagodas scattered across mountain temples nationwide have changed?

Hwangdeung Quarry in Hwangdeung-myeon, Iksan City, Jeollabuk-do, is gaining attention as a new tourist attraction with its unique landscape formed by the depth of the underground granite quarry, the vertically cut cliff faces, and the circularly surrounded quarry structure. Photo by Hwangdeung Art & Culture

Granite, with its hardness and durability, has always remained by our side, steadfastly enduring weathering and erosion over the ages. Although it is produced in various regions, many people regard "Hwangdeungseok" from Hwangdeung-myeon, Iksan City, Jeollabuk-do, as the finest granite.

Thanks to its exceptional quality, as suggested by the legend of Asadal, the Baekje stonemason who was "scouted" by neighboring Silla during the Three Kingdoms era, the history of Hwangdeungseok from Iksan is a story of accumulated stone-working skills and aesthetics. For a long time, the passage of time for stone was only called "industry." In the process of quarrying, transporting, and erecting, stone was judged solely by its purpose, specifications, strength, and efficiency. Hwangdeungseok was no exception. The journey of a single block of granite becoming a pillar of the National Assembly Building was more often omitted than recorded. The quarrying sites, dusty cut surfaces, and the repetitive rhythm of labor always remained in the shadows of the finished product.

However, as time passed and industry retreated, what remained was, unexpectedly, the "traces." The depth of the underground quarry, the texture of the vertically cut cliffs, and the circular structure of the quarry became a landscape the moment their function ended. Spaces left without purpose, places that have fulfilled their use and come to a halt, are actually those most quickly connected to today’s gaze. Perhaps that is why the younger generation is drawn to Hwangdeung Quarry. It is a place where the experience precedes explanation, and a scene that is complete simply by standing within it, without any excessive staging. In this way, Hwangdeung Quarry is transitioning from the language of industry to the language of the senses.

The Hwangdeungseok Mountain, excavated down to 80 meters below the surface, resembles an underground Colosseum. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

The stone no longer needs to be moved elsewhere, and now people deliberately seek out the place where the stone once lay. The space that was once a site of production has now become a place for a sensory experience, where visitors can directly encounter unrecorded time. At the heart of this transformation is Hwangdeung Quarry.

This quarry, excavated down to 80 meters below the surface, was an industrial site where stone was extracted for a century. Hwangdeungseok quarried here became the foundation for major Korean landmarks, including the National Assembly Building, the Supreme Court, and the 13-meter granite columns of the Blue House State Guesthouse. The stone left this place for the city, and Hwangdeung Quarry remained a background space for a long time.

Now, attention is once again turning downward. Since opening on October 25, the "Iksan Hwangdeung Quarry Art and Culture Park First Observatory" has welcomed over 20,000 visitors in just over a month. Of these, 70% are people in their 20s and 30s. Even among spaces that have revived industrial heritage, the pace of change here is considered especially rapid.

A panoramic view of the First Observatory overlooking Hwangdeungseoksan at a glance. Inside the structure, which is open on all sides with glass, visitors can see the depth and texture of the cliff as it is. In particular, the square vertical cut surface created by the diamond wire saw method reveals the quarry's time in orderly geometry. Photo by Hwangdeung Art & Culture

The most striking feature of the First Observatory at Hwangdeung Quarry is its scale. The quarry, reaching 80 meters underground and spanning 66,000 square meters-equivalent to nine soccer fields-is so overwhelming it is difficult to take in at a glance. The circular excavation and sheer vertical cliffs give the impression of a massive structure slumbering beneath the earth. This landscape is often compared to an "underground Colosseum turned upside down."

The observatory does not obscure this scene. Inside the glass-walled structure, visitors can directly observe the depth and texture of the cliffs. In particular, the square vertical cut surfaces created by the diamond wire saw method reveal the passage of time in the quarry through orderly geometric forms. As sunset approaches, the gray stony mountain is tinged gold and then red, marking the day's end.

Inside the observatory, media art and documentaries depicting the past, present, and future of the quarry are on display. The space blurs the boundaries between viewing and relaxation. The caf? offers signature menu items such as sweet potato lattes and Einsp?nner made with Iksan’s specialty sweet potatoes. The layout is designed so that visitors can enjoy both the scenery and the local flavors.

Exterior view of Hwangdeungseoksan No.1 Observatory. Recently opened as a local attraction, it has welcomed 20,000 visitors within three months of its opening. Photo by Hwangdeung Art & Culture

This transformation is ongoing. A second observatory, three times the size of the first, is under construction and scheduled for completion in the first half of 2026. This three-story complex cultural space will accommodate media art, small performances, and exhibitions. Along the walking trail connecting the two observatories, modern cultural heritage items such as quarrying equipment that showcase the history of Hwangdeung Quarry will be displayed. In the long term, the goal is to complete the transformation of the entire quarry into an art and culture park by 2031.

The journey to Hwangdeung Quarry naturally leads to Hwangdeung Market. "Hwangdeung Bibimbap," a dish born in this area where up to 3,000 stonemasons once gathered, preserves the legacy of stone and labor. The meal, in which stonemasons would mix rice soaked in hot broth with various side dishes for a quick meal, is still served under the same name at Hwangdeung Market, continuing as a local specialty passed down through three generations.

The place where stone was quarried, the buildings erected from that stone, and the way of life accumulated alongside the stone-Hwangdeung Quarry now reveals all these layers in a single space. With the depth excavated, it has finally become a place that can truly be seen.

Interview with Kim Daedong, Project Manager at Hwangdeung Art & Culture

"The first thing you feel at Hwangdeung Quarry is its scale. The overwhelming impact of a space 80 meters underground and the size of nine soccer fields is the same for everyone. But interestingly, what matches its vastness is the tranquility within. Quarries are usually remembered for their noise, vibration, and dust. What remains here now, however, is stillness. I believe that contrast in atmosphere creates the unique emotional tone of Hwangdeung Quarry."



Kim Daedong, the project manager, describes the direction of the Hwangdeung Quarry project as one of "revealing" rather than "covering."



"When it came to regenerating the abandoned quarry, I didn’t want to find answers by simply adding something new. A century of time is already layered here. The traces of stone extraction, the texture of the cut surfaces, and the circular excavation itself are a narrative. The moment the traces of industry created by humans begin to look like nature over time, the biggest challenge was how to showcase that scene without damaging it."



In preparing for this project, he visited several examples of quarry regeneration abroad, including Butchart Gardens in Canada, the "Carri?res de Lumi?res" in Provence, France, the Eden Project in the UK, and Naoshima in Japan.



"What was impressive was that, despite differences in country and approach, there were clear similarities. The successful cases did not erase the 'damaged space.' Instead, they respected the passage of time and proposed new ways of interpreting the space through culture and art. Hwangdeung Quarry aims to move in the same direction."



Kim defines Hwangdeung Quarry as "a site of past industry and a place where today’s generation can sensually experience the passage of time."



"Young people today respond more to places that tell a story simply by being there, rather than spaces filled with explanations. At Hwangdeung Quarry, even without added commentary, the moment you look down, questions naturally arise. The emotions people experience here are, I believe, the true achievement of this project."