Taebaek

城市概覽

Taebaek is located in the southern interior of Gangwon State. As of 2016, the population was 47,333.

History Ihe region once belonged to Siljikguk (실직국; 悉直國), a tribal state within the Jinhan confederacy during the Samhan period, with its capital in what is now Sajik-dong, Samcheok. When Siljikguk fell to King Jangsu of Goguryeo, the area became Goguryeo territory. During the Silla Dynasty, under King Jijung, Siljikju (실직주; 悉直州) was established here. It was later renamed Bukryoeng (북령) under King Muyeol, becoming a militarily strategic point. The name was changed to Samcheok-gun during the reign of King Gyeongdeok. In the Joseon Dynasty, the area was part of Gangwon-do and Samcheok-gun in Gangneung-bu. Modern Taebaek City was formed in 1981 when Hwangji-eup(Eup is a town-level administrative division) and Jangseong-eup were merged from Samcheok County.

Climate

Since meteorological observations began in 1985, Taebaek has only recorded a single tropical night (the lowest temperature ever recorded was 25.7°C on August 9, 2013), making it a cool place even in summer. The climate is so cool that in areas around Chujeon Station, which sits at 855 meters above sea level, or Dumundongjae Pass, at 1,268 meters, heating is needed in the early morning even in summer.

如何抵達

By plane From Incheon or Gimpo International Airport (ICN or GMP), there is a direct intercity bus from the airports to Taebaek. From Incheon airport, the direct intercity bus to Taebaek departs from Terminal 1 and operates once per day, leaving Incheon at 15:30 (as of April 2026). From Gimpo airport, the bus leaves at 16:00 (as of April 2026). For both departures, you must be present well before the departure time. Always check the schedule to confirm for yourself. Since these only seem to operate once per day (as of April 2026), it may be more efficient to enter Seoul by bus or AREX and use the more numerous bus and rail connection from there.

By bus All intercity buses arrive at Taebaek Bus Terminal. There are connections to most cities in the capital region and the rest of Gangwon, as well as Busan, Daejeon, and Gwangju. From Seoul, an intercity bus to Taebaek departs from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal every 30 minutes. The bus will make one or two stops along the way before reaching Taebaek. The trip takes around three hours. There are milk run buses that makes over 20 stops as well, which are not advisable as they will arrive later than the next direct bus. ₩24,600 or ₩31,900 depending on bus class.

By train The main train stop is Taebaek Station located right next to the bus terminal. Dongbaeksan and Cheoram Stations are also within city limits but probably are not convenient for travellers. From Seoul, six trains depart from Cheongnyangni station each day to stop at Taebaek en route to Gangneung. The trip costs ₩15,200 and takes 3 hours and 40 minutes. From other cities direct rail connections are rare and undesirable compared to buses. There is one daily train that leaves from Busan (Bujeon Station) and arrives Cheoram a whopping 6 hours later. Two trains run between Daegu (Dongdaegu Station) and Cheoram and Dongbaeksan Stations each day as well.

1 Taebaek Station (태백역), 13, Gangwon-nambu-ro, ☏ +82 1544-7788. The city's main gateway. ITX-Maum: The faste

當地交通

The city center (Hwangji-dong) is compact and walkable, but most major attractions like Taebaeksan National Park, 365 Safe Town, and Cheoram are spread out across different valleys. Public transportation is reliable but requires some planning.

By bus All city bus lines start and end at the bus terminal. Buses with three-digit line numbers are the same routes as their two-letter counterparts, only more expensive. The most commonly used bus lines for travellers are 1 (11,12,110,120), 4 (41, 410). Bus 1 and 4 are circular lines that loop (counterclockwise and clockwise respectively) around the city limits every 20 minutes to reach the main villages.

Payment: Most buses accept rechargeable transportation cards like T-money and Cashbee, as well as contactless credit cards. Major Routes: Terminal to Taebaeksan (Danggol): Buses run approximately every 30–60 minutes. Look for buses bound for "Danggol" (당골). Terminal to Cheoram/Jangseong: Frequent services connect the city center to the southern districts. Terminal to Yongyeon Cave: Check the schedule at the terminal as these are less frequent. 2 Taebaek City Bus Information (태백 시내버스), 17, Hwangji-ro 15-gil. The Intercity Bus Terminal also serves as the main hub for city buses. While English signs are limited, the destination names are usually clearly marked on the front of the buses. Using a map app like KakaoMaps or Naver Maps is highly recommended for real-time bus arrivals and route tracking.

By taxi Taxis are a convenient way to reach high-altitude sites like O2 Resort or Maebongsan Windy Hill, where buses are infrequent or don't reach the summit.

Availability: Taxi stands are located at Taebaek Station and the Bus Terminal. Fares: Taxis use meters. The base fare is consistent with other provincial cities in Korea (around ₩4,000).

By car Renting a car is the most flexible way to explore valleys. However, with many winding mountain roads, it may not be an ideal choice for an inexperienced driver. On snowy day

必看景點

Taebaek offers a wealth of natural and industrial heritage sites, many of which are situated at the highest altitudes in South Korea.

Natural landmarks 1 Taebaeksan National Park (태백산국립공원) (Mt. Taebaek). The city’s crown jewel. The 1,567-m Taebaeksan is sacred in Korean mythology and offers sweeping views, ancient Yew forests, and the famous Cheonjedan altar at the summit. Popular in winter for snow-covered landscapes. 2 Hwangji Pond (황지연못), 25, Hwangjiyeonmot-gil, ☏ +82 33-550-2081. Open 24 hours. Located in the city center, this pond is the legendary source of the 510-km-long Nakdong River. About 5,000 tons of water gush out daily from this spring, which is surrounded by a small public park. Free. 3 Yongyeon Cave (용연동굴), Yongyeon Cave 283-29, Taebaek-ro, ☏ +82 33-553-8584. 09:00 - 18:00 (booth closes 17:00, closed Monday). It was designated as a Gangwon State monument on February 26, 1980, as a limestone cave created by the gradual dissolution of limestone deposited in the ancient Ordovician period in the past hundreds of years in rainwater and groundwater. It is about 843m in length and has a large square with a width of 50 m and a height of 30 m inside the cave. The temperature inside the cave is 9 to 11 °C, and as the only dry cave in Korea, there are no underground water at the bottom of the cave, but there are 5 to 6 limp pools large and small. ₩3,500 (adults), ₩2,500 (13-19), ₩1,400 (under 13). (updated Jul 2020) 4 Gumunso (구문소), 1, Dongtaebaek-ro. Open 24 hours. A unique geological formation where the Hwangji-cheon stream has pierced through a massive limestone rock over millions of years, creating a natural stone gate and waterfall. It is a major Paleozoic site with various