Mokpo Marine Cable Car

This cable car sets off from North Port in downtown Mokpo, crosses the rocky crest of Yudalsan Mountain, then swings out over the sea to Gohado Island. Over its 3.23 km you pass the city, a granite mountain, and the islands of the southwest sea one after another. Since it opened in September 2019 it has become the first thing most visitors to Mokpo do.

Over the mountain, across the sea

From North Port Station the cabins climb along the rocky ridge of Yudalsan. At Yudalsan Station the line turns at a right angle and then drops over the sea towards Gohado. Tower No. 5, which carries this section, is 155 m tall, so the descent from the mountain towards the water is where the sense of floating is strongest. A return trip takes about 40 minutes.

What you see

• Yudalsan's rocky ridge: the line runs just above the crest, so you see its jagged rock formations up close.
• City and harbour: on the North Port side lie Mokpo's old town and harbour; seawards you see Mokpo Bridge and the islands of the Dadohae.
• Gohado: the island where Admiral Yi Sun-sin spent 106 days rebuilding his fleet during the Jeongyu War. From Gohado Station you can walk to a boardwalk built over the sea and an observatory shaped like stacked panokseon warships.
• Sunset and night views: the sun sets over the island-studded sea, and after dark the lit towers and Mokpo Bridge make a fine night scene.

Cabins and stations

There are 55 cabins, each seating ten. Their wide doors take wheelchairs and pushchairs, but only in the standard cabins; crystal cabins with a transparent floor are mixed in. There are three stations: North Port, Yudalsan and Gohado. North Port and Gohado have car parks; Yudalsan Station cannot be reached by car and is used by hikers only.

Making a day of it

The cable car links three of Mokpo's main sights. Board at North Port in the morning, get off at Gohado for the boardwalk and observatory, then on the way back hop off at Yudalsan Station to walk among the rocky peaks and pavilions of 228 m Yudalsan. From there it is a short walk down to Nojeokbong rock and Mokpo's modern-history streets. To do this, cross on a North Port→Gohado one-way ticket and return on a Gohado→North Port one-way ticket, getting off at Yudalsan. Remember that only tickets starting from Gohado let you get off at Yudalsan.

Tripto tips

• Opening hours: in summer season (March–October) Monday to Thursday 09:00–20:00, Friday to Sunday and public holidays 09:00–21:00. In winter season (November–February) Monday to Thursday 09:00–19:00, Friday to Sunday and holidays 09:00–20:00. Tickets are sold from 08:30 until one hour before closing. The line closes temporarily in strong winds.
• Fares (return): standard cabin adults KRW 24,000, children KRW 18,000; crystal cabin adults KRW 29,000, children KRW 23,000. Children's fares apply from age 3 to the end of primary school; under 36 months ride free.
• One-way tickets: sold separately for North Port→Gohado and Gohado→North Port. On the North Port→Gohado ticket you cannot get off at Yudalsan; on the Gohado→North Port ticket you can get off and back on at Yudalsan.
• Parking: 3 hours free for cable car passengers, then KRW 2,000 per hour.
• Getting there: from Mokpo Station or Mokpo Bus Terminal take trunk bus 1 to the "Mokpo Marine Cable Car" stop; North Port Station is a 6-minute walk.
• Time needed: an hour for the return ride alone, 2–3 hours with the Gohado boardwalk and observatory.
• Best time: ride up an hour before sunset, watch the sun go down from Gohado and come back over the lit-up city.
• Watch out for: pets are not allowed (guide dogs excepted), and walking sticks, trekking poles and umbrellas are not allowed in the crystal cabins.