Bugok Oncheon

Bugok Oncheon (Bugok Hot Springs) in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, sits above 48 geothermal wells that were discovered beneath Deokamsan Mountain in 1973 and now produce more than 6,000 tonnes of water daily. At the source, the water reaches roughly 78°C — the highest recorded natural spring temperature in Korea — though it is cooled before use in bathing facilities. The water carries over 20 minerals, including sulfur, silicon, chlorine, calcium, and iron, and is traditionally used for respiratory conditions, skin disease, rheumatism, and muscle recovery. Development began soon after the spring's discovery; the district became a national tourist resort in 1977, a Special Tourist Zone in 1997, and in 2023 Korea's first city officially designated as a 'hot spring city.' An annual hot springs festival is held every October.