Namsan Gondola on Hold: N Seoul Tower for Groups

The short answer

Seoul's planned gondola from Myeongdong to the top of Namsan has no opening date: the Seoul High Court upheld a ruling against it on 17 September 2026, and the city has appealed to the Supreme Court. Explera DMC plans N Seoul Tower visits for groups on the existing cable car, the Namsan buses or on foot.

Agencies that put N Seoul Tower in a Seoul city day should not promise a new gondola ride in 2027 programmes. Our Korea team covers the court case in its note on the stalled Namsan gondola; this page is the short version for agencies planning groups.

Why Is the Namsan Gondola on Hold?

The plan. Seoul started building a gondola from near Myeongdong Station to the top of Namsan in 2024, with an opening first planned for spring 2026.
The rulings. In December 2025 the Seoul Administrative Court ruled for the operator of the existing Namsan cable car, finding the city's rezoning of the site unlawful. On 17 September 2026 the Seoul High Court dismissed the city's appeal.
What comes next. The city has appealed to the Supreme Court and is also seeking a change to the rules that block the gondola towers. No new opening date has been set.

A cable car cabin climbing a green hillside towards N Seoul Tower on Namsan

How Do Groups Reach N Seoul Tower Today?

The cable car. The existing Namsan cable car still runs up to the summit area.
The Namsan buses. The summit road is closed to private cars, so the circulation buses carry visitors up from the city.
On foot. The Namsan paths suit fit groups with time, and they make a good walk down after the visit.
The coach. Tour coaches do not drive to the summit. The coach drops the group below and meets it again afterwards.

A cable car cabin above the green slopes of Namsan with the city of Seoul behind

What Should Agencies Change in 2027 Programmes?

Itinerary wording. Describe the cable car or the bus, not a gondola that has no opening date.
Timing. Weekends and evenings are the busiest times on the cable car, so we time the visit and keep a bus option ready.
Guests who need an easier way up. For guests who should not face steps or a long queue, the bus is usually the gentler choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Namsan gondola open?

No. It was first due to open in spring 2026, but court rulings against the project stopped it, and it has no opening date.

What is the latest in the Namsan gondola case?

The Seoul High Court dismissed the city's appeal on 17 September 2026, and Seoul has appealed to the Supreme Court.

How do groups get up to N Seoul Tower?

By the existing Namsan cable car, by the Namsan circulation buses or on foot along the Namsan paths.

Can a tour coach drive up to N Seoul Tower?

No. The summit road is closed to coaches and private cars, so the coach drops the group below and the group goes up by cable car, bus or on foot.

Sources

Where Explera Fits

Our Korea team plans Seoul city days with the coach drop-off, the way up Namsan and the meeting point after the tower.

Write to b2b@explera.kr or message +66 93 656 8090 on WhatsApp. Explera DMC is IATA TIDS-registered (96215733) and an ASTA member (900408341); our KTO and KATA registrations are in application.