The Geumgang River originated from Tteumbong spring in Jangsu, Jeonbuk Province and runs across the Noryeong Mountains near Okcheon, Chungbuk Province. It then joins the Mihocheon River and flows down to the south, Gunsan and Janghang, where it then flows to the Yellow Sea.
The Geumgang Valley is the third largest in South Korea after the Nakdonggang River and the Hangang River, which is 395.9km in length and 9,810km2 in area (10% of the territory of South Korea). Sixty-five percent of the Valley consists of mountains and there are 2,660km2 of farmland out of 3,550km2 of flatland.