#45. Samtan Art Mine in Jeongseon, Gangwon-do Province

Coal mines and miners at one time were the powerful engine that drove Korea's phenomenal economic growth. Sadly, the once-busy industrial site, which opened in 1964 and had flourished until its shutdown in 2001, stands empty and silent today. A few years ago, however, the old, abandoned mine was resurrected as a cultural and artistic venue named Samtan Art Mine, where the mine's dynamic yet heart-breaking history inspires unforgettably poignant works of art.