Cheongpyeong Dam, Dam and hydroelectric power station in Gapyeong-gun, South Korea
Cheongpyeong Dam is a dam and hydroelectric power station on the Bukhan River in Gapyeong-gun county, South Korea. The structure is about 407 meters long and roughly 100 feet (31 meters) high, holding back the river to form a wide reservoir.
Cheongpyeong Dam was built in 1943, during World War II, primarily to generate electricity for the region. Over the following decades, additional turbine units were added, with the most recent expansion completed about a decade ago.
The dam sits near a water ski resort that draws visitors in summer, when people come to enjoy water sports on the river. On weekends, families from Seoul often spend the day walking along the riverbanks and watching the water.
The area around the dam is easy to reach from Seoul and works well as a day trip destination. In winter, snow can make travel more difficult, so it is worth checking conditions before heading out.
The dam uses a technology called pumped storage, where water is pumped back up into the reservoir when electricity demand is low, then released again through the turbines when demand rises. This makes the facility act as a kind of large battery for the power grid.
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