Seoul Grand Park to replace Sky Lift with enclosed gondola system

Seoul Grand Park's open-air Sky Lift, which has carried visitors around the park since 1991, will be demolished and replaced with a more modern, enclosed gondola lift system, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on Sunday.

The existing chairlift is set to end operations by the end of the year, and the future gondola lift is scheduled to be fully constructed 24 months after its groundbreaking in 2027. Specific dates have not yet been confirmed. The project site covers an area of 25,443 square meters (6.3 acres) in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi. 

Though the existing Sky Lift is one of Seoul Grand Park's most recognizable features, its open-air design and aging infrastructure have long raised safety concerns. Critics have also pointed to its inaccessibility for visitors using baby carriages and wheelchairs, as well as its vulnerability to heavy rain and snow.

The new gondola lift system will have a total length of 1,747 meters (5,731.6 feet) across two cables, connecting the main parking lot, the zoo entrance and the big cat enclosure, according to the city government. The park will build three new stations along the route, each equipped with offices, ticket booths, storage facilities and other amenities, including retail and community services. As a result, the park will also install new electrical, telecommunications and water and sewage infrastructure throughout the area.

Once the gondola system begins operations, a private developer will hold management and operating rights to the gondola lift for 30 years before transferring ownership to the city government. 

The city previously attempted to introduce an updated aerial lift system in 2016 but shelved the plan, citing a lack of commercial viability. The project was revived in 2022 as part of a broader restructuring plan for Seoul Grand Park. In 2024, the city submitted a formal proposal for the gondola lift to the Seoul Metropolitan Council, marking the start of official proceedings.

Seoul Grand Park is a sprawling leisure complex located at the foot of Mount Cheonggye. Opened on May 1, 1984, the park spans a total area of over 9 million square meters and is home to Korea's first zoo, the Seoul Zoo, as well as a botanical garden, the Seoul Land amusement park and a branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY HAN YOUNG-HYE. [[email protected]]