The Seoul city government said on the 2nd it will complete the Namsan gondola project it has pursued since last year by 2027. It plans to finish a gondola that can travel from Myeong-dong Station to the top of Namsan in five minutes.
The Seoul city government announced a "Namsan revitalization plan" that includes these details.
The Namsan gondola will have 25 10-seat cabins that can accommodate more than 2,000 people per hour. Passengers using wheelchairs and strollers will also be able to board.
Initially, the Seoul city government planned to install the Namsan gondola by this year. But construction was halted after Korea Cable Car Industry, which has exclusively operated the Namsan cable car since 1961, filed for an injunction to suspend work and brought an administrative suit.
In response, the Seoul city government plans to resume construction immediately if it wins in the main trial.
An official at the Seoul city government said, "Namsan, which draws 11 million visitors a year, is greatly loved, with satisfaction reaching 96%, but the need for overall improvements—such as difficult access, aging facilities, and ecological damage—has been consistently raised."
In addition, the Seoul city government will build a 360-degree observatory at the summit of Namsan and create a 1.9-kilometer walking trail inside Namsan, including the Sky Forest Trail and the North Forest Trail.
The Seoul city government estimated it will cost about 150 billion won to carry out this Namsan revitalization plan.