[Seoul's Future] In 2028, Cross the Han River on a Gondola from Seoul Ring to North Korea

Seoul to Transform with Hangang Renaissance 2.0
Enhancing Competitiveness through Various Landmarks and Transportation
Mayor Oh Se-hoon: "A New Leap Will Begin"

One day in 2028, Emma, a French fan of K-content, arrives in Korea through Incheon Airport and immediately heads to the ‘Seoulling’ Ferris wheel at Sky Park in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Riding the Ferris wheel, which offers views from a higher vantage point than the 63 Building, she enjoys a panoramic view of the Han River and Seoul cityscape. The weather is clear enough to see all the way to North Korea. Her next destination is the Second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Yeouido, where she goes to watch a musical featuring her favorite K-pop star’s first performance. After the mesmerizing show, she spends the night at a hotel along the Han River in Yeouido, admiring the dazzling skyline. The next day, Emma visits the Global Future Complex (GFC) in Seongsu, known as ‘Korea’s Silicon Valley,’ to explore an ICT exhibition she has been interested in. Afterwards, she takes a gondola ride to Jamsil in just five minutes to enjoy a delicious dinner.

This is the envisioned future of Seoul, transformed by Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s ‘Great Han River Project.’ This project is version 2.0 of the ‘Han River Renaissance’ initiative first launched by Mayor Oh in 2007. Its goal is to enhance Seoul’s urban competitiveness by establishing cultural, artistic, and leisure landmarks throughout the Han River area and diversifying transportation modes across land, air, and water.

The Han River is the heart of Seoul and a symbol of South Korea, with a maximum width of 1.2 km?more than five times wider than the Seine in Paris or the Thames in London. It stretches 41.5 km in length and offers expansive waterfront spaces. Despite this potential, the Han River has yet to gain global recognition due to a lack of attractions and activities.

Mayor Oh has set the vision of ‘A Greater Han River for All to Enjoy Together,’ focusing on four core strategies: ▲a Han River in harmony with nature ▲a Han River with convenient mobility ▲a Han River full of charm ▲a Han River that adds vitality. These strategies will drive the Han River Renaissance 2.0.

When announcing the Great Han River Project, he explained, “Seoul industrialized rapidly, resulting in a severe shortage of green spaces and cultural, artistic, and leisure facilities. Competitive cities are those rich in facilities where citizens can enjoy culture and arts, which is why we are pursuing the Great Han River Project.” He emphasized, “Through Han River Renaissance 2.0, Seoul will embark on a new leap as the world’s fifth-ranked international city.”

Seouling [Image source=Seoul City]

◆Seoulling, Higher than the 63 Building, Views Reach North Korea

Seoul plans to install the world’s largest ring-shaped Ferris wheel, Seoulling, at Sky Park. Modeled after London’s ‘London Eye,’ Seoulling is distinctive for its spoke-free wheel design. It will reach a height of 180 meters, making it the second tallest after the ‘Ain Dubai’ in the United Arab Emirates. Hong Seon-ki, Seoul’s Future Space Planning Director, said, “With Sky Park’s elevation of 96 meters, the total altitude of Seoulling will be 275 meters, surpassing Yeouido’s 63 Building (264 meters), allowing for excellent views in all directions.”

Seoulling will have 36 capsules, each accommodating up to 25 people, rotating at a speed of 0.25 meters per second. It can carry 1,474 passengers per hour and up to 11,792 per day. Seoul expects over 3.5 million tourists annually. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025 and complete in the second half of 2027.

The primary reason for choosing Sky Park as the site for Seoulling is its symbolic significance. Sky Park serves as a gateway to Seoul and holds meaning as a new gateway in the era of inter-Korean unification. A Seoul city official explained, “Geographically close to North Korea, it is a junction point between South and North, symbolizing the hope for national harmony and unification.”

From this location, visitors can enjoy views of the Han River, downtown Seoul, as well as natural landscapes such as Namsan, Bukhansan, and Gwanaksan mountains. It also represents a space where Seoul’s past as a landfill site and its future goals (carbon neutrality, climate change policies) can be realized. However, public transportation access is currently insufficient, so eco-friendly autonomous buses and gondolas are being actively considered to address this.

Gondola [Image source=Seoul City]

◆Cross the Han River from Ttukseom to Jamsil by Gondola

Seoul is planning to install gondolas to connect major points along the Han River from the air. Ultimately, gondolas will share the function of crossing the Han River, which is currently concentrated on bridges.

The core purpose of the Han River gondola is to expand mobility along the waterfront and create a leisure and cultural landmark through a unique experience, similar to London. Candidate locations include Ttukseom, Jamsil, Seoul Forest, and Sangam areas. These are popular spots for citizens but lack sufficient transportation access and connectivity, necessitating supplementary transport options.

Particularly, the 1.6 km section connecting the Sports Complex Station and Ttukseom Resort Station on the subway is under strong consideration. Currently, transferring by public transport from Jamsil Main Stadium to Ttukseom Resort takes about 30 minutes, but the gondola would reduce this to 5?6 minutes.

Seoul expects the Han River gondola to become not only a transportation mode but also a new tourist attraction offering unique views of the Han River. The plan is to attract tourists who currently concentrate in downtown areas like Yeouido and Banpo Han River Parks, thereby expanding the use of the Han River more broadly. Mayor Oh stated, “Since the gondola will be developed as a private investment project, we will carefully select locations where economic feasibility can be secured by thoroughly analyzing tourism and transportation demand.”

Yeouido Second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Bird's-eye View [Image Source=Seoul City]

◆Second Sejong Center in Yeouido, Submerged Bridge Becomes Waterwalk

A second Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will be built in Yeouido Park by 2026 as a waterfront cultural landmark. Among Seoul’s three major downtown areas, the central Seoul downtown has the Sejong Center, and Gangnam has the Seoul Arts Center, but Yeouido and Yeongdeungpo lack a representative performance venue. Therefore, Seoul decided to build the second Sejong Center near the southern end of Mapo Bridge, close to the Han River within Yeouido Park.

The facility will include a large theater with 2,000 seats, a smaller theater with 400 seats, restaurants, and cultural education facilities. A Han River viewing observatory will also be installed for citizens to use free of charge, even if they do not attend performances. Seoul plans to connect the center with ‘Seoul Port,’ which will be built near Yeouinaru Station on Subway Line 5, to facilitate easy access.

A Seoul city official said, “With performance venues evenly distributed across the three downtown areas, this will promote balanced cultural development and serve as a hub for cultural exchange. Expanding cultural elements will strengthen Yeouido’s role as a downtown area.”

The submerged bridge in Banpo-dong, Seocho-gu, will be transformed into a waterwalk by 2026, allowing visitors to stroll on the water while watching movies and performances. Located beneath Banpo Bridge, the submerged bridge minimizes traffic congestion and offers a safe waterwalk experience relatively soon. A circular pedestrian bridge will be constructed on Seonyudo, and the Nodeul Art Bridge and Seoul Forest Culture Bridge are scheduled to begin construction in 2025.

Old swimming pools throughout Han River parks will be remodeled into ‘natural water play areas.’ Unlike traditional pools, these natural water play areas blend with forests and offer views of the Han River. The first will open in Jamsil in 2024, with plans to expand to Gwangnaru, Jamwon, and Mangwon pools based on citizen feedback.

Ichon Hangang Park Hangang Art Pier Bird's-eye View [Image Source=Seoul City]

◆Floating Swimming Pool in Ichon-dong

A floating swimming pool will be created at Ichon Hangang Park. The pool will be built on the aging Geobukseon Ferry Terminal and float on the Han River. The total pool area will be 900 square meters, including a 25-meter lane, a children’s pool, and a heated pool. A Seoul city official said, “Visitors will be able to walk to the pool on land but will feel as if they are swimming in the Han River.”

Along with the floating pool, Seoul will develop the ‘Han River Art Pier,’ a complex facility offering water leisure, performances, and exhibitions. The project cost is approximately 30 billion KRW. After conducting basic planning and feasibility studies this year, construction is expected to start as early as 2025, aiming for opening in 2026.

Starting with Ichon Han River Art Pier, Seoul plans to gradually increase floating pools and marina facilities where visitors can enjoy various water activities such as yachting, paddleboarding, and water skiing, turning the Han River into a tourist attraction.

Additionally, Seoul will launch the ‘Han River Sports Renaissance,’ utilizing the wide Han River and its waterfront for outdoor sports and leisure classes and programs. These will help beginners safely enter water sports. Amateur competitions for each sport will be held to foster a familiar water sports culture among citizens. International sports events such as swimming championships and triathlons will be hosted to establish the Han River as a sports hub. Safety management will also be strengthened to ensure citizens can enjoy sports and leisure with peace of mind.

Deregulation... Creating a Stunning Skyline

Core growth areas such as Yongsan International Business District will be designated as urban innovation zones and developed in connection with the Han River. In these zones, Seoul will depart from existing urban planning systems by removing use restrictions on urban architecture and allowing flexible determination of floor area ratios and building coverage ratios.

Large-scale urban planning facilities along the Han River will be utilized diversely. For example, Jamsil Sports Complex will be developed into a global MICE hub focused on future strategic industries such as K-content and new industry exhibitions. Seoul aims to complete negotiations with private developers within this year and begin construction by the end of 2024. The Yeouido financial district will receive significant support, including rezoning to central commercial areas, floor area ratio incentives, and relaxation of height restrictions, to advance as an international financial center. Mayor Oh said, “We will minimize regulations such as zoning and height limits to help the private sector create vibrant urban spaces with creative ideas.”

Reconstruction regulations will be boldly relaxed to allow the Han River residential areas to develop a dazzling skyline. Currently, the Han River area shows a uniform landscape resembling rows of matchboxes. The city plans to abolish rigid regulations such as the 35-floor height limit and 15-floor limit on main buildings along the Han River, granting more autonomy over urban aesthetics.

Currently, 76% of the Han River area is residential. Seoul estimates that about 90 complexes can pursue reconstruction. The city plans to receive public contributions by increasing floor area ratios while improving Han River accessibility. Proposals include connecting the Han River with green pedestrian paths and encouraging mixed-use developments such as commercial and office spaces on lower floors to enhance public use of Han River land.

Mayor Oh stated, “When we promoted the Han River Renaissance 15 years ago, there was criticism asking why focus on the Han River when people were struggling to make a living. But after COVID-19, everything was proven. People camped and spread mats along the Han River with their families, and if such spaces had not existed, 10 million citizens would have suffered greatly.” He added, “The Han River Renaissance was just a cultural revival in name; cultural and artistic facilities along the Han River have yet to be completed. Through the Great Han River Project, richer cultural and artistic spaces where Seoul citizens can enjoy their weekends will be established.”

Unlike before, when only the main stream of the Han River was focused on, Han River Renaissance 2.0 is expected to impact tributaries as well. Mayor Oh emphasized, “While Han River Renaissance 1.0 focused only on the main stream, Han River Renaissance 2.0 will transform four major tributaries?Anyangcheon, Tancheon, Hongjecheon, and Jungnangcheon?creating leisure spaces evenly distributed across 25 autonomous districts.”