Cross-River Cable Car Among New Attractions for Seoul

A cable car crossing the Han River from Jamsil to Tteukseom is among several grand projects with which Seoul hopes to make itself more attractive to visitors.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the projects on Thursday, which consist of several fashionable new landmarks in the capital. "We will pursue the projects mostly with private-sector funding to ensure huge sums of money don't have to come from the city coffers," Oh said.

Cable cars have become popular attractions in cities around the world. The Jamsil-Tteukseom gondolas will travel a distance of 1.6 km at a speed of 4 to 5 m/s, offering panoramic views of the river below during the six-minute journey.

A Seoul city official said they can be used for daily commutes as well and carry around 2,000 people a day. Construction is to begin in 2026.

Another cable car will take visitors from the World Cup Stadium Station to the Seoul Ring Ferris wheel to be built in Haneul Park in Sangam-dong, northwestern Seoul.

The city also plans to come up with city tours using drone taxis and other forms of urban air mobility by 2025. The financial district of Yeouido will get more recreational spaces like gardens and concert venues along with a port for river cruise boats.

Jamsu Bridge underneath Banpo Bridge is to be transformed by 2026 into a walkway and an aquatic botanical garden will be built next to the bridge. Some swimming pools along the Han River will be turned into natural pools where the water is filtered through plant life.

The city government will also ease height limits on buildings along the Han River to encourage a more varied skyline, while a walking bridge will connect Apgujeong-dong in southern Seoul with Seoul Forest across the river.

"There have been many complaints that the Han River is still difficult to access and lacks entertainment facilities," the mayor said. "We will overhaul the riverside to create a more lively city space."