An abandoned coal-mine tunnel in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, has been converted into a "cold-wind bath" to provide relief from extreme summer heat [1].
This repurposing of industrial ruins allows visitors to escape record temperatures by utilizing geothermal properties. As the region faces ongoing heatwaves, the facility offers a sustainable, energy-free alternative to traditional air conditioning by leveraging the earth's natural thermal mass.
The facility works by channeling air from mine shafts located hundreds of meters underground [2]. Reporter Oh Jeom-gon said the cold air from these deep shafts moves toward the warmer surface, acting as a natural air conditioner [1].
Visitors have reported that the temperature drop is significant enough to require extra clothing. Song Hwa-yeon, a visitor from Dangjin, said the interior was so cool that her children eventually needed to put on clothes because they became too cold [1].
Other visitors expressed similar satisfaction with the experience. Kim Eun-dan, who traveled from Yongin, said the visit was a great memory and that the area was very cool, adding that she would like to visit again [1].
The unique attraction is drawing significant crowds during the current summer season. Officials expect the cold-wind bath to attract over 100,000 people [1].
Boryeong is utilizing the abandoned infrastructure to create a unique tourism draw while addressing public health needs during the heatwave. The site transforms a remnant of the region's mining history into a functional utility for the local community, and tourists alike.
“The cold air from these deep shafts moves toward the warmer surface, acting as a natural air conditioner.”
The conversion of the Boryeong mine tunnels reflects a growing trend in adaptive reuse, where industrial waste sites are transformed into climate-resilient infrastructure. By utilizing the constant temperature of deep underground spaces, the city reduces the energy load typically required for urban cooling during extreme weather events.
