Korea Heritage Service halts Mount Seorak cable car project over rare plant relocation concerns

A marker is placed near the planned upper station site of the Osaek Cable Car in Mount Seorak, around 1,500 meters above sea level, for the relocation of rare alpine plants. Courtesy of Seoraksan National Park Protection Action Group

The Korea Heritage Service has requested a suspension of construction on the controversial Osaek Cable Car project in Mount Seorak in Gangwon Province, citing the need to review rare plant relocation efforts.

The move raises the possibility of delays or even the cancellation of the entire project, as civic groups step up criticism of the plan.

According to a report submitted to Rep. Lee Ki-heon of the Democratic Party of Korea and released on Thursday, the agency formally asked Yangyang County on June 11 to halt construction after confirming that the county began relocating rare plant species on June 9 without submitting a detailed implementation plan.

In May 2023, the Korea Heritage Service conditionally approved the cable car project on the basis that Yangyang County minimize harm to native vegetation, secure off-site conservation measures for rare plants and ensure the geological stability of tower foundations.

A young Korean fir tree grows in the rocky area where the upper station of the Osaek Cable Car is planned. The species is rooted in bedrock and is considered virtually impossible to relocate. Courtesy of People’s Coalition for Protection of Seoraksan National Park

Although submitting a relocation plan is not legally required, the agency said it must verify whether the work is proceeding in line with the agreed conditions.

The county also failed to notify the agency directly of the project’s launch, having only filed a start-of-work notice through the national digital administration system in April.

Under Article 16 of Korea’s regulations governing natural heritage alteration, the Korea Heritage Service is required to conduct regular inspections of such projects. If violations are found, it may file criminal complaints or demand site restoration.

The agency said it plans to conduct an on-site inspection soon and will rigorously review all conditional requirements with expert consultation, especially those related to rare plant conservation.

Environmental groups have long argued that transplanting alpine vegetation at the cable car’s upper station site, located at an elevation of about 1,500 meters, is unfeasible due to the fragility of the ecosystem.

The National Institute of Ecology and the Korea Environment Institute previously warned that impact reduction plans for endangered species like the long-tailed goral were insufficient.

“This is an administrative failure driven by gross negligence,” said Jeong In-cheol, head of the People’s Coalition for Protection of Seoraksan National Park. “The only responsible path forward is to cancel the project entirely and explore sustainable alternatives under the new administration.”

The civic group also criticized the county for bypassing essential verification steps and attempting to obscure the site’s ecological sensitivity. “This was a predictable disaster caused by the county’s systemic incompetence,” the group said in a statement.

A long-tailed goral lies beside a road in Mount Seorak. Courtesy of People’s Coalition for Protection of Seoraksan National Park

Rep. Lee also condemned the county’s actions, calling them “gravely irresponsible” for ignoring even basic administrative obligations required to safeguard national heritage. “The National Assembly will ensure that post-approval oversight is strictly enforced,” he said.

In response, a Yangyang County official said the agency’s request was not based on any unauthorized activity but rather part of a routine compliance review.

The official added that the plants being relocated include 19 species and 700 specimens designated as rare by the Korea Forest Service — though none are classified as natural monuments — and are “commonly found in Mount Seorak.”

The county said it would continue discussions with the Korea Heritage Service.

Alpine vegetation near the planned upper station of the Osaek Cable Car at around 1,500 meters has raised concerns, as the fragile ecosystem is highly vulnerable and difficult to relocate. Courtesy of People’s Coalition for Protection of Seoraksan National Park

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.