One of Seoul’s long-standing park attractions is approaching the end of its journey. The Seoul Grand Park Sky Lift, which has carried visitors across the park since 1991, is expected to be replaced as part of a modernization project introducing a new enclosed gondola transport system.
For more than three decades, the aerial lift has provided visitors with panoramic views of Gwacheon Lake, the zoo area, forests, and seasonal scenery across the park. The lift connects major sections of the park along a route of roughly 1.75 kilometers, helping visitors travel between the parking area, zoo entrance, and upper animal zones.
However, Seoul city officials have confirmed that the aging infrastructure is now one of the main reasons behind plans to replace the system. Because the lift cabins are open-style and limited in accessibility, they cannot easily accommodate strollers or wheelchairs, making them difficult to use for transportation-vulnerable visitors. In addition, the system is more sensitive to weather conditions such as heavy rain and snow compared with enclosed gondola transport.
The proposed replacement gondola system is designed to address these limitations while increasing capacity. According to project planning documents submitted to the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the future gondola could transport up to 2,400 passengers per hour, compared with approximately 1,350 passengers per hour using the current lift.
The modernization project has already passed key investment review procedures by national and city planning bodies, and the next steps involve final approvals, operator selection, and construction preparation before dismantling begins.
While an exact final operation date for the Sky Lift has not been officially confirmed in public schedules, the replacement plan signals that the current system is nearing the end of its service life after more than 30 years of operation.
For many visitors, the Sky Lift has been more than transportation. It has been part of family trips, seasonal outings, and spring cherry-blossom rides across the park. As Seoul prepares to transition to a safer and more accessible gondola system, the classic lift remains a nostalgic symbol of the park’s history for longtime guests.