Ministry of Environment Conditionally Approves "Environmental Impact Mitigation Measures"
3.3km Cable Car Installed to Seoraksan Geutcheong
Second Cable Car in Domestic Terrestrial National Parks
The Osaek Cable Car (Sakdo) installation project in Seoraksan National Park will proceed as planned after more than 40 years of repeated controversy over its pros and cons.
The Osaek Cable Car project is a long-cherished wish of the residents of Gangwon Province to install a 3.3 km long cable car connecting the Osaek area of Seoraksan National Park in Yangyang County and 'Kkeutcheong,' located 1.4 km in a straight line from Daecheongbong Peak, the summit of Seoraksan.
Since the project was halted in 1982 due to opposition from the Cultural Heritage Administration, it has faced multiple setbacks including two rejections of the national park plan, refusal to change cultural heritage status, and disapproval of the environmental impact assessment.
The Wonju Regional Environmental Office of the Ministry of Environment announced on the 27th that it has given a "conditional consultation (conditional approval)" opinion on the environmental impact assessment for the Osaek Cable Car installation project in Seoraksan National Park, Yangyang County, Gangwon Province.
Earlier, following the ruling to accept the cancellation of the disapproval decision filed by Yangyang County with the Central Administrative Appeals Commission, the project underwent a re-supplementation process and reached this consultation.
However, the Wonju Regional Environmental Office issued several requests for improvements along with the conditional opinion.
They required measures to enhance habitat functions by combining unmanned sensor cameras and on-site surveys for protected species such as the Korean goral, and additional local investigations for protected plants.
Furthermore, to minimize ecological impact and terrain damage, they proposed lowering the upper station location from an altitude of 1,480m to 1,430m and suggested an additional plan to supply electricity to the Jungcheong Shelter instead of using diesel generators.
The Osaek Cable Car installation is scheduled to begin construction in 2024 and start operation in 2027. It will be the second cable car installed in a terrestrial national park after Deogyusan.
Seoraksan National Park Osaek Cable Car Installation Project Passes Environmental Impact Assessment After 8 Years [Photo provided by Gangwon-do]
Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province, said in a statement announcing the "passage of the environmental impact assessment," "It took 41 years. Although it is belated, we welcome this together with 1.54 million residents of Gangwon Province," adding, "Gangwon Province will take the lead in protecting the environment of Seoraksan."
He continued, "We will proceed with the remaining procedures as quickly as possible and resolve everything in one shot to start construction within this year," and added, "Through future organizational restructuring, we will establish the 'Seoraksan Cable Car Promotion Team' within the provincial office to push forward with speed."
Kim Jin-ha, Mayor of Yangyang County, said, "Many people have worried and encouraged us, asking how a cable car could be installed in Seoraksan, which is a 'national park' and a 'natural monument.' We will strive to create a global premium cable car worthy of a national pilot project."
Jung Jun-hwa, the residents' representative and chairman of the Eco-friendly Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car Promotion Committee, said, "The installation of the eco-friendly Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car has now taken its first step, but many challenges remain to be solved," adding, "Our Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car Promotion Committee is ready to work together with Gangwon Province and Yangyang County with one heart and one mind."
The Seoraksan Osaek Cable Car project is one of President Yoon Suk-yeol's policy tasks and was also a campaign pledge of Governor Kim Jin-tae of Gangwon Province.
Meanwhile, opposition from environmental groups against the installation of the Osaek cable car is expected following this conditional consultation decision.
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