Cheoram Coal-Mine Historic Town, Taebaek

Site details

Cheoram was once the heart of Korea’s coal industry as it powered the country’s industrialization. This coal-mining town bustled with thousands of people each day, including miners and their family members who had gathered here from across the country. Because the village was largely bypassed by later development, its appearance as a coal-mining community from the peak of the industry remains remarkably intact, from the stilted buildings crowding the narrow mountainside to the old shopping streets and alleyway signs. Exhibition spaces throughout Cheoram Coal-Mine Historic Town offer a glimpse into the arduous yet vibrant lives of miners and other local residents through photographs and everyday objects. Nearby Cheoram Station stands the Cheoram Coal Preparation Plant, which was built in 1935 and is still in operation today. As Korea’s only operating anthracite coal preparation facility, it allows visitors to see the industrial process by which mined coal is sorted and transported.