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By Lee Kyung-min
The Ministry of Environment approved a plan Friday to build a cable car route on Mount Seorak that has pitted the local government against environmentalists since 2011.
Following the approval, Yangyang County in Gangwon Province will launch the construction next year to erect a 3.5 kilometer route in the nation's most scenic and well-preserved natural park.
At a meeting held in Gwacheon City Government Complex, of 20 committee members ― 10 representing the government and 10 representing civic groups ― 12 voted for the plan.
The approval has seven requirements attached, including measures to preserve indigenous mountain goats and other wildlife, and the establishment of an around-the-clock monitoring system.
The county will construct the cable car connecting Osaek to Kkeutcheong Peak with six pillars to support the cables by 2017 at a cost of 46 billion won ($39 million).
Currently, 154 cable car routes are set up nationwide.
The decision comes after Yangyang County filed for a permit in April, its third attempt after two previous requests were rejected by the committee, which determined it would pose a threat to the environment and to endangered species there.
The two were for a 4.6-kilometer-long cable car route to Daecheong Peak in 2012; and for a 4.5 kilometer-long one on the Gwanmo Ridge in 2013.
The committee rejected the 2012 plan saying "environmental preservation far outweighed artificial construction," adding that the scenery near Daecheong Peak would be substantially ruined if a terminal was set up there.
The 2013 plan was also scrapped after concerns of the possible extinction of the native mountain goats, which the environment ministry designated as a level 1 endangered species. Also taken into account was that the destination was too close to Daechoeng Peak.
Since 2012, civic groups and local residents have clashed over the plan with the former criticizing the latter for pursuing economic gains at the cost of the environment.
Locals in Gangwon Province have supported the plan saying the construction will increase the number of visitors, revitalizing the stagnant local economy.
"We welcome the move because it will definitely attract more people. The cable cars are also good for those who cannot physically make it to the top of the mountain such as the disabled, children and the elderly," a resident said.
They added that the construction prior to the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games would boost tourism in the area.
However, environmental groups including Green Korea have strongly opposed the plan saying indiscriminate development would result in irrecoverable damage.
"The mountain is the natural habitat for many endangered species. People can live without taking a cable car to reach the top of a mountain, but the animals cannot, if their habitat is invaded," an official said.
"The plan would trigger many municipalities to follow suit seeking to make money without considering the long-term environmental impact," he added.
The group's concern was backed by a recent study conducted by the Korea National Park Service on 15 national parks.
Mount Deokyu in North Jeolla Province topped the list as the mountain subject to the most environmental stress. Cable cars are set up there and at Mount Naejang in the same province.
The 1,708-meter-high Seorak is the third highest mountain in the country. It was designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1982. Some 3.4 million people visit the site annually, with 700,000 climbing to the summit.
Meanwhile, many municipal governments are pushing to set up cable car routes including ones on Mount Jiri and Mount Sokri, in South Gyeongsang and North Chungcheong provinces, respectively.
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