The Mayor of Seoul, Oh Se-hoon, visited London among other places during his 10-day European tour. There, during a tour of the IFS cable car, he made the remark that the Seoul city government would build a cable car to connect the important leisure attractions as well as cultural sites on the banks of the Han River (Hangang).

Modelled on London’s cable car, it would not only solve mobility problems but also create diverse waterfront transport routes to attract tourists to the Han River as well.

Among the sites under consideration are Ttukseom, a popular riverside park with a number of outdoor facilities, Jamsil with the Lotte World Tower, the fifth tallest building in the world, Seoul Forest, a large environmentally friendly park known for its cherry blossoms, and Sangam, where Seoul’s World Cup stadium is located.

The project is part of the recently unveiled Great Han River Project Plan, a major riverside development plan to create cultural and recreational facilities and innovative infrastructure along the Han River.

Seoul also hopes to attract more pedestrians by opening up more public spaces in the city centre, following the example of London where private spaces are often open to the public.

The government said it would accept construction proposals from private companies after reviewing details such as potential environmental impact and technical feasibility. An exact date has yet to be set.