Kangwon Land to Open Coal-Mining Heritage Complex 'M650' on Oct. 1

Kangwon Land will officially open M650, a cultural complex built using the coal-mining heritage of the former Dongwon Coal Mining Company’s Sabuk Mine, on Oct. 1.
M650 was developed on the site of the Dongwon Coal Mining Company’s Sabuk Mine, which operated from 1962 to 2004. Since 2021, Kangwon Land has created the space by remodeling the site while preserving the original forms of key facilities, including offices, shower rooms, the mine shaft tower and the 650 Gallery, rather than demolishing the existing structures.
M650 takes its name from the mine’s elevation of 650 meters above sea level. Visitors can explore miners’ working conditions and daily lives, as well as enjoy various attractions, including a mine-cart ride and a café housed in the former hoist room.
The official opening ceremony will be held on Oct. 7. From Oct. 7 through Oct. 10, M650 will also host the 2026 Coal Mine Culture Festival, featuring the participation of seven cities and counties in the coal-industry transition region.
Kim Do-kyun, CEO of Kangwon Land, said, "This space was created to preserve not only the buildings and facilities of the Sabuk Mine, but also the memories of workers’ lives accumulated there. We will develop it into a leading cultural venue where new generations can experience the history and value of coal mines firsthand."
Meanwhile, Kangwon Land is also pursuing the designation of M650 as a National Registered Cultural Heritage. The project has passed deliberation by Gangwon State and is awaiting review by the Korea Heritage Service.
[email protected] Jeong Sun-min Reporter