{
  "id": 2397921,
  "title": "Step inside Gwangmyeong Cave: Former mine transforms into space for meditation, music",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/step-inside-gwangmyeong-cave-former-mine-transforms-into-space-for-2397921",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T15:47:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260822/step-inside-gwangmyeong-cave-former-mine-transforms-into-space-for-meditation-music"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Gwangmyeong Cave, a former mine located in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, has been transformed into a unique space for meditation and music. The cavern, which stretches a total of 7.8 kilometers, only has about 2 kilometers routinely open to visitors. However, efforts to utilize the restricted areas began in July 2020, with three previously inaccessible sections opening up. This year, two more sections - one above ground and one underground - are being opened temporarily.\n\nInside the dark cave, visitors find ten beanbag chairs, each large enough for one person to lie down. A single shaft of light filters through an opening on one side, providing just enough illumination for visitors to navigate. Due to the limited lighting, careful guidance using a cellphone flashlight is necessary when taking a single step. Despite this challenging environment, over 1 million people visit the cave annually, making it a popular tourist attraction.\n\nThe Dark Immersive Meditation program is currently taking place throughout August in the above-ground section of the cave. This unique experience allows visitors to explore the cave's depths while engaging in a meditative practice. The underground section is also set to open, offering visitors a new perspective on this hidden gem.",
  "summary": "Ten beanbag chairs, each large enough for one person to lie down, fill the dark cavern. A single shaft of light filters through an opening on one side, but it is nowhere near enough to illuminate the deep darkness. Even taking a single step requires carefully following the guide's cellphone flashlight. It is hard to believe that this is part of a tourist attraction visited by around 1 million…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Step inside Gwangmyeong Cave: Former mine transforms into space for meditation, music",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/step-inside-gwangmyeong-cave-former-mine-transforms-into-space-for",
        "published": "2026-08-21T15:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}