Scheduled to Submit Injunction Appeal on the 12th
Cultural Heritage Preservation Evaluation Also 'No Issues'
Preparing Appeal Statement Emphasizing 'Public Interest'
Seoul City is launching a counterattack to resume the 'Namsan Gondola' project. Although the Seoul Administrative Court has put the project on hold by accepting the suspension of execution request filed by the Namsan Cable Car operator, the city plans to submit an appeal and take legal action. Recently, the project also passed the cultural heritage preservation impact assessment for the surrounding area, allowing it to gain an advantage in the environmental damage controversy.
According to Seoul City on the 12th, the city will submit an appeal against the Seoul Administrative Court's decision to accept the 'suspension of execution for the change of urban natural park zone' as early as today. A Seoul city official stated, "We will complete the related preparations by the 13th at the latest, in accordance with the deadline for submitting the appeal," adding, "We also plan to reinforce the reasons for the appeal to further emphasize the public interest of the (Namsan Gondola) project."
Earlier, on the 30th of last month, the Seoul Administrative Court accepted the suspension of execution request filed by Korea Cable Industry, the operator of the Namsan Cable Car. This was in response to Korea Cable Industry filing a lawsuit in September to cancel the urban management plan decision against Seoul City's gondola project, citing violations such as non-compliance with the criteria for lifting the urban natural park zone.
To operate the gondola, intermediate pillars over 30 meters high must be erected, but structures over 12 meters are not allowed in the urban natural park zone. Therefore, Seoul City changed the land use zone of the gondola project site from an urban natural park zone to a park. Korea Cable Industry also claimed a decrease in cable car users and infringement on the learning rights of nearby schools.
However, Seoul City plans to actively respond legally through the appeal. In particular, the reasons for the appeal to be submitted later are expected to emphasize the public interest of the Namsan Gondola and highlight the revenue structure of the cable car operator. The official explained, "The profits from the Namsan Gondola all go toward the preservation and management of Namsan, whereas the cable car business is far from public interest," adding, "We will strengthen these points and respond accordingly."
Mayor Oh also argued that after the court's decision to halt the 'Namsan Gondola' project, the profits from the Namsan Cable Car have been monopolized by two families over three generations, and that the gondola must be installed to break this monopoly. He emphasized that the Namsan Cable Car monopoly is similar to the monopoly of concessions along the Han River. Mayor Oh stated, "There was a time when a few groups monopolized concessions along the Han River, but now, through bidding, the operating rights are granted to the highest bidder, eliminating the monopoly system and returning the profits directly to the citizens," adding, "Namsan must also transform now through fair and transparent competition in its operation."
Regarding concerns that the Namsan Gondola could damage cultural heritage and the natural environment, Seoul City has secured objective evaluation results. The cultural heritage preservation impact review for activities within the historical and cultural environment preservation area was recently completed, and Seoul City received a 'no problem' judgment in this assessment.
Meanwhile, Seoul City held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Namsan Gondola project in September and announced that official operation is scheduled for the first half of 2026. The Namsan Gondola is planned to operate on an 832-meter route between Yejang Park (lower station), located 200 meters from Myeongdong Station, and the summit of Namsan (upper station), with foundational work for the lower station already underway. At that time, Seoul City also announced plans to restructure the Namsan summit area, including the creation of the Namsan Sky Forest Trail, in preparation for an increase in visitors and tourists after the gondola is completed.
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