Yeosu Maritime Cable Car

This cable car swings across Yeosu's harbour, linking the mainland with Dolsando island. The Yeosu Maritime Cable Car connects Jasan Park, by the entrance to Odongdo, with Dolsan Park, and it was the first cable car in Korea to cross the sea. Yeosu harbour, its bridges and islands pass below you, and at dusk and after dark you get the sunset and the city lights together.

What it is

The cable car began running in December 2014. It was the fourth cable car in Asia to cross the sea, after Lantau in Hong Kong, Sentosa in Singapore and Nha Trang in Vietnam. There are two stations:

• Dolsan (Nolla) Station: in Dolsan Park on the island side, 3600-1 Dolsan-ro, Dolsan-eup.
• Jasan (Haeya) Station: in Jasan Park by the Odongdo entrance on the mainland, 116 Odongdo-ro.

You can buy tickets and board at either end. There are 50 cabins: 35 standard cabins for eight people and 15 crystal cabins with toughened-glass floors for six. A one-way ride takes about 13 minutes, a round trip about 25.

What to see

• Over the water: as the line crosses the sea, ships, quays and the harbour bridges slide by beneath you.
• Crystal cabins: the transparent floor lets you look straight down at the water; they have their own queue.
• Sunset and night views: ride at dusk for the sunset, or after dark for the lights on the bridge and city.
• Fantasy New World: photo zones, trick art and a mirror maze on the 3rd floor of Jasan Station (separate ticket).

Safety and the surroundings

The operator runs a dual drive-control system so the line can keep going if one side fails, with sensors and CCTV in the machine room and on every tower monitored in real time. Inspections take place at least twice a month, and a separate emergency drive allows passengers to be brought down even if everything else shuts down.

Close to the stations are Odongdo, the Expo site, an aquarium, the Nangman Pocha street-food strip, Jinnamgwan hall, Jongpo Marine Park and Hamel Lighthouse, so the cable car fits easily into a day around central Yeosu. To skip the queue entirely, you can hire a whole cabin with the Premium ticket (KRW 350,000).

Tripto tips

• Hours: usually 09:30–21:30. On scheduled safety-inspection days it runs from 2 p.m., so check the notices on the official website; strong wind can halt service.
• Prices (adults): standard cabin KRW 17,000 return, KRW 14,000 one way; crystal cabin KRW 24,000 return, KRW 19,000 one way. Children (36 months to primary school age) pay KRW 12,000 return in a standard cabin and KRW 19,000 in a crystal cabin. Discounts apply for seniors, disabled visitors and groups.
• Tickets: no reservations; tickets are sold on the day on site. Tickets bought online cannot be used on the day of purchase.
• Restrictions: wheelchairs, pushchairs, suitcases and trekking poles are not allowed in crystal cabins. Finish food and drinks before the ticket check. Pets must be in a closed carrier.
• Parking: the Dolsan Park and Odongdo-entrance public car parks (250 spaces each) are free for the first hour, then KRW 200 per 10 minutes.
• Combine with: Odongdo, close to Jasan Station, or a drive down Dolsando to Hyangiram at its southern tip.