Jirisan Cable Car Project Reignites Debate Amid South Korea’s Presidential Transition

The hoarfrost blooming in Jirisan is a mesmerizing winter phenomenon. (Image and provided by the Jirisan National Park Gyeongnam Office)

CHANGWON, May 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A long-standing dispute over plans to install a cable car in Jirisan National Park has resurfaced as South Korea prepares for an early presidential election, with local governments pushing forward while environmental groups intensify opposition.

South Gyeongsang Province recently reaffirmed its support for the controversial project, naming it one of the region’s key strategic priorities to be included in candidates’ campaign pledges for the upcoming June 3 presidential vote.

The cable car plan, centered on the scenic Mt. Jirisan — Korea’s first national park — has been a point of contention for over two decades, repeatedly stymied by environmental concerns.

Opposition stems from fears of ecological degradation in the park, home to more than 40 endangered species including Asiatic black bears. Despite intermittent proposals from surrounding municipalities since the early 2000s, the Ministry of Environment has consistently blocked the project.

In 2012, under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the ministry rejected a joint request from four local governments, calling instead for a unified route proposal.

That policy stance remained unchanged through successive Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in administrations. However, momentum for similar initiatives gained traction after former President Yoon Suk Yeol — during his 2022 campaign — pledged to revive a comparable cable car project in Seoraksan National Park, which was eventually approved.

In 2023, Sancheong County established a task force to promote a Jirisan cable car as part of regional tourism and economic revitalization efforts. The provincial government later backed the plan, naming the route from Jungsan-ri to Jangteomok as the sole proposal from the Gyeongnam region.

But Yoon’s impeachment earlier this year and the resulting early election have renewed calls for the project’s cancellation. Environmental groups, including the South Gyeongsang chapter of the Korean Federation for Environmental Movements, held a press conference on April 30 urging the incoming administration to reject development plans and prioritize ecological preservation.

Press conference by environmental groups in South Gyeongsang Province opposing the installation of a cable car in Jirisan
[Provided by the South Gyeongsang Federation for Environmental Movements]

Despite the backlash, South Gyeongsang officials insist the project will proceed as planned, regardless of political changes. “The cable car is vital to securing tourism infrastructure and addressing demographic decline in mountain communities,” a provincial official stated, adding that mitigation strategies for environmental concerns will be pursued.

The proposed route, under study since April 2024, is expected to complete its feasibility report by the end of May 2025. The province plans to submit the findings — including a strategic environmental impact assessment — to the Ministry of Environment to seek installation approval.

The Jirisan cable car proposal now stands at a critical juncture, with its fate likely to be shaped by the next administration’s stance on development versus conservation.

M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)