Daedunsan Cable Car, covering 927 m in 5 minutes: the actual route to the front of Geumgang Cloud Bridge

A 927 m Reversible Cableway Operating Since November 1990

Daedunsan Cable Car began operating in November 1990. It is a 927 m reversible system with a 23-degree incline, in which two cars pass each other, and the ride to the upper station takes about five minutes. According to the Korea Tourism Organization's information, each car can accommodate a maximum of 50 passengers.

Daedunsan is a provincial park spanning the boundary between Unju-myeon, Wanju-gun, and Nonsan-si and Geumsan-gun in Chungcheongnam-do. Because the ridge on the Wanju side served by the cable car connects the area of Macheondae and the spectacular rock formations from bottom to top, elevated walking sections such as Geumgang Cloud Bridge and Samseon Stairway remain even after the short ride.

Same-Day On-Site Ticketing Begins at the Ticket Office at 55 Daedunsangongwon-gil

The address of the lower station is 55 Daedunsangongwon-gil, Unju-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, and the main telephone number is 063-263-6621. The official website is https://daedunsancablecar.com. Tickets are issued sequentially on the day of boarding, and advance reservations are not available.

Because tickets are issued on site, ticketing and boarding queues may overlap on weekends and during the autumn foliage season. A visitor review from November 2024 recorded that only on-site purchases were available, while an earlier winter review mentioned a wait of 20 to 30 minutes. Before departure, it is safest to check the day's operating status through the website notices and by phone.

• Ticket sales are announced to end 20 minutes before operations finish.
• Operations may end early or be suspended in cases of abnormal weather such as strong winds or lightning.
• Both round-trip and one-way tickets are sold, so anyone planning to use the cable car only for the descent after hiking should first inquire about the day's operating status and ticketing conditions.

Between the 09:00 Start and 18:00 End, Why You Should Reconfirm Fares by Phone

Recent information available online generally states that operations run from 09:00 to 18:00, with ticket sales closing 20 minutes before the end of service. However, closing times may vary depending on the season, weather, and operating notices, so it is best to avoid an itinerary that arrives late while relying solely on a fixed closing time. Regular closing days have not been clearly confirmed in the latest official notices, so it is preferable to call 063-263-6621 before departure.

Published information from 2023 to 2024 lists fares of KRW 15,000 for an adult round trip, KRW 11,500 for a child round trip, KRW 12,000 for an adult one-way trip, and KRW 9,500 for a child one-way trip. Since the fare table may change, give priority to the latest notice posted on site or on the official website before payment. The cable car ride itself takes about five minutes, but allowing at least two hours is realistic when round-trip waiting time and exploration of the upper area are included.

About 50 m from the Upper Station to Geumgang Cloud Bridge; Samseon Stairway Has a Separate Difficulty Level

The distance from the cable car's upper station to the lower side of Geumgang Cloud Bridge is about 50 m, and the walk is described as taking approximately 10 minutes. Therefore, an itinerary that only rides the cable car and views the scenery requires a different level of preparation from one that crosses Geumgang Cloud Bridge and Samseon Stairway. From the upper station onward, visitors should expect rocky paths, stairs, and sloping walking sections.

Wanju-gun's featured course is Parking Lot → Cable Car → Geumgang Cloud Bridge → Samseon Iron Stairway → Macheondae, covering 1.7 km. Wanju-gun tourism materials indicate that the journey from the cable car observatory to Macheondae takes about one hour. This is why gloves that allow you to grip handrails, shoes with good traction, and an alternative itinerary for rainy or windy forecasts are necessary.

• For people with a fear of heights or significant knee or ankle strain, turning back around the upper station may be a more suitable plan.
• The upper hiking trail, including Samseon Stairway, may be closed depending on weather conditions and safety inspections.
• Riding the cable car does not mean that the route to Macheondae is on level ground.

From the Parking Lot at 611-34 Sanbuk-ri to the Cable Car: A Reference Point for Vehicle Access

The listed address for the Daedunsan parking lot is 611-34 Sanbuk-ri, Unju-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province. A pedestrian route leads from the parking lot toward the restaurant district and the cable car lower station, and a December 2025 visitor review recorded that it took less than 10 minutes to walk from the parked car to the ticket office. However, the time varies depending on the parking location and congestion.

Reliable, up-to-date information on public transportation station exits and regular bus routes could not be confirmed through official operating information. Visitors coming from outside the area may find it better to plan separately for a private car, taxi, or intercity bus connection from their departure point. Those traveling by car may wish to consider arriving early in the morning during autumn foliage weekends, taking into account the possibility of waiting for a parking space.

Wheelchair Accessibility Should Be Assessed Separately for the Lower Station and Upper Trails

Barrier-free information from Korea Tour indicates facilities including an accessible restroom, an elevator for people with disabilities, designated accessible parking spaces, a level main entrance, and wheelchair rentals. Before using the lower station, it is advisable to confirm the required level of assistance and whether wheelchairs are available for rent by calling 063-263-6621.

However, the areas beyond the upper station toward Geumgang Cloud Bridge, Samseon Stairway, and Macheondae are mountainous walking sections. The possibility of boarding the cable car should not be treated as equivalent to wheelchair accessibility on the upper hiking trails. Since the availability of foreign-language guidance is also unclear in the latest official information, prepare a companion or translation aid if necessary and inquire before departure.

Planning Your Visit Around 20-Minute Intervals During Foliage Season and Wind-Related Suspensions

The basic interval is announced as approximately 20 minutes, while examples of frequent or shorter-interval service have been reported during busy periods. Conversely, on autumn weekends when demand is concentrated, on-site ticketing and boarding waits may become long, so a schedule that arrives at the lower station during the first morning time slot is easier to predict.

Many visitors hope to take snowy landscape photographs in winter, but strong winds, lightning, and abnormal weather can cause the cable car to stop early. Since the perceived temperature and wind at the summit can differ considerably from conditions at the lower station, prepare windproof outerwear and water, and include in your plan the possibility that your itinerary may end around the lower station if service is suspended.

Following the Geumgang Cloud Bridge and Samseon Stairway Route Through Daedunsan Cable Car Videos

What you should check in advance through videos is the walking route beyond the upper station rather than the inside of the cable car. Although Geumgang Cloud Bridge and Samseon Stairway are short in distance, their exposure and steepness are considerable. Checking the stair width, handrails, and surrounding cliff terrain on screen can help you decide whether the itinerary is suitable for you.

In particular, the physical effort varies depending on whether you take the cable car round trip and how you plan your descent after visiting Macheondae. Use videos as supplementary material for gauging the terrain, and base information about closures and operations on the day on official website notices and telephone guidance.

• Shortest cable car route video: Allows you to preview the upper Daedunsan route.
• Geumgang Cloud Bridge and Samseon Stairway video: Useful for judging whether the sense of height will be challenging.