Sokcho Seoraksan Cable Car to Gwongeumseong at 699 m Above Sea Level

Seorak Cable Car, established in 1970, connecting Sogongwon and Gwongeumseong

Seorak Cable Car was established on January 15, 1970, connecting Sogongwon in Seoraksan National Park with Gwongeumseong. The operating distance is 1,128 m, the one-way journey takes approximately 5 minutes, and the destination, Gwongeumseong, is situated at an elevation of 699 m.

The current facilities were not built all at once. In the 1980s, the existing 21-passenger cabins were replaced with large 41-passenger cabins, and in 2002, the facilities were completely reinstalled using Swiss technology. The cable car operates at a maximum speed of 8 m/s and carries 50 passengers.

Take buses 7 or 7-1 from Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal to the Sogongwon entrance

If departing from Seoul, Sokcho Express Bus Terminal or Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal is the most practical starting point for visitors from outside the area. Official information states that express buses from Seoul to Sokcho take approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, while intercity buses take approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, with services operating about every 30 minutes.

From Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, take city bus 7 or 7-1 and get off at the Seoraksan parking lot terminus. The bus passes the former fire station, the express bus terminal, the Seoraksan entrance, the Seoraksan National Park Visitor Information Center, and Kensington Hotel before reaching the terminus. The cable car is approximately a 5-minute walk from the Sogongwon entrance.

The address is 1085 Seoraksan-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. There is no dedicated cable car parking lot, so drivers must use the paid Sinheungsa parking lot. For parking inquiries, call 033-636-4050.

The 16,000-won round-trip ticket is available only at the on-site ticket office

Tickets are purchased at the on-site ticket office on the day of the visit, without advance reservations. As of 2026, the round-trip fare is 16,000 won for adults aged middle-school level and above, 12,000 won for children from 37 months through elementary-school age, and free for infants under 36 months. One-way tickets are not sold.

The discounted round-trip adult fare for national merit honorees and people with severe or Grade 1 or 2 disabilities is 13,000 won; the fare for children meeting the same disability criteria is 9,500 won. The senior fare for visitors aged 65 and over is 14,000 won during periods when peak-season discounts do not apply.

Sokcho residents pay 8,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for children, subject to proof of residence and a limit of one ticket per person. In 2026, peak-season discount blackout periods are July 18–August 23 and September 19–November 15.

Operating hours change daily, with services every 5 or 10–15 minutes

A fixed daily operating schedule cannot be provided in this article. Operating hours may change depending on conditions at the site and the weather, and the schedule is newly posted each day at the top of the official website’s homepage. The current official visitor information displays “Operating hours being confirmed.”

When there are few visitors, services run every 10–15 minutes; when there are many visitors, they run every 5 minutes. Since the one-way ride takes approximately 5 minutes, the round-trip travel time is about 10 minutes. The cable car cabins do not have air-conditioning or heating, so prepare clothing suitable for the outdoor temperature in both summer and winter.

Service may be suspended for safety in strong winds or severe weather. The cable car inquiry phone number is 033-636-4300, and the official website is https://www.sorakcablecar.co.kr.

Move to the second-floor boarding area and return from Gwongeumseong

After purchasing a ticket, you must move to the second-floor boarding area at least 5 minutes before your boarding time. The first and second floors have a snack corner and coffee shop where you can purchase simple drinks or snacks while waiting.

There is no separate viewing-time limit at Gwongeumseong, but you must take the last cable car back down. If you take the final departing cable car upward, you may have only about 20 minutes to visit Gwongeumseong, so calculate the time needed to return before going up.

There is no hiking trail for walking down after getting off the cable car. After visiting Gwongeumseong, you must return to the lower station by cable car, and the entire Seoraksan National Park area is a non-smoking zone.

How much of Gwongeumseong Fortress, the beacon tower, and Anrak-am can you see?

From the upper station, you can see the remains of Gwongeumseong Fortress. The main viewing points listed in official tourism information include the viewpoint toward the beacon tower, Anrak-am, and Muhaksong. The cable car is not transportation for freely climbing the entire mountain summit; it provides access to viewing points around Gwongeumseong.

From the viewpoint rock in the direction of the beacon tower, you can see Oeseorak beyond the ridgeline, downtown Sokcho, and, in the distance, the East Sea. Information notes that among Seorak’s rocky mountains, visitors can encounter Anrak-am and Muhaksong, an old pine tree.

It is best to plan photography around the Gwongeumseong viewpoint and the rocky peaks of Oeseorak. The cable car ride itself takes about 10 minutes round trip, but there is no limit on how long you may stay at Gwongeumseong, so determine your visiting time based on the final operating service.

Store strollers, and use the elevator with wheelchairs

Strollers cannot be taken onto the cable car. A free stroller storage area is located outside the boarding building on the right, so families bringing strollers must store them before boarding.

Wheelchair users can take the elevator to the second-floor boarding area. However, there is no hiking trail down from Gwongeumseong, and the viewing areas are not all described as having flat mountain terrain, so it is safer to plan mobility arrangements together with companions.

For inquiries about the cultural heritage area entrance, call 033-636-8755. For inquiries about hiking trails in Seoraksan National Park, call 033-801-0900. Cable car usage conditions and operating status can be confirmed at 033-636-4300.

Refund policy up to 10 minutes before boarding and on-site preparations

Purchased tickets can be fully refunded up to 10 minutes before boarding. After that, if you request a refund or change the time, the amount paid will be reduced by 20% of the boarding fare. On days with unstable weather, consider this policy and avoid confirming tickets for an excessively early time slot.

Since tickets are purchased for the day at the ticket office rather than by presenting a reservation number, schedule your arrival at the Sogongwon entrance according to your desired time slot. During the 2026 peak-season discount blackout periods, July 18–August 23 and September 19–November 15, calculate your budget based on the applicable fares.

Sokcho Seoraksan Cable Car reaches Gwongeumseong at an elevation of 699 m after a short ride, but there is no alternative descent route if you miss the last downward service. Foreign visitors should check the day’s operating hours, parking location, and whether service has been suspended due to weather at the top of the official website’s homepage before departing.