Some previously closed areas of Jeju’s famous lava tube were opened to the public during the World Heritage Festival that ended yesterday(Sept. 20).
Following Mike Laidman’s travel to (만장굴) Manjanggul Lava Tube, Todd Thacker will today take you to parts of the mazelike (벵뒤굴) Bengduigul Lava Tube.

In the forest east of Jeju City, a hidden entrance of a lava tube appears.


At the narrow mouth of the cave, an extraordinary sight comes into view.
After passing by a lava bridge created in an ancient lava flow, large drops of ground water drip down.
Only the single beam of a flashlight penetrates the darkness.
The light illuminates extraordinary icicle-like structures.
Interesting shapes left in the cooled magma remind us of a human face.
Lava columns stretch out endlessly in the dark.

The passage becomes narrower as the explorers go deeper.
Groups of bats are spotted hanging upside down.
They pay no attention to visitors.


Sadly the cave shows evidence of the island’s painful history.
It was once used as a shelter by residents of (선흘리) Seonheul-ri village who tried to escape the violence taking place during the April 3rd Incident.
Stone walls were erected to hide the firelight coming from inside of the cave.


(벵뒤굴) Bengduigul Lava Tube is one of 10 caves found in the Geomunoreum Lava Tube System.
With its low ceilings and narrow passages, it has the most complex structure among the island’s lava tubes.


As the lava tube snakes immediately below the surface, about 20 openings have been created by the collapse of its thin ceilings. Three were open to the public during the World Heritage Festival held in September.


This section of the Geomunoreum Lava Tube system, with both it’s natural wonders and dark history, is an important part of Jeju’s valued past and future.

Todd Thacker, KCTV