{
  "id": 19603037,
  "title": "Seoul to spend $14 mil. to turn Mount Nam into eco-tourism hub by 2031",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/seoul-to-spend-14-mil-to-turn-mount-nam-into-eco-tourism-hub-by-2031",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T05:12:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/environment-animals/20261112/seoul-to-spend-14-mil-to-turn-mount-nam-into-eco-tourism-hub-by-2031"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seoul has allocated 19.2 billion won ($14.2 million) between now and 2031 to transform Mount Nam into an eco-tourism hotspot. The South Korean capital aims to restore forests and introduce new attractions on the city landmark, per a government announcement on Thursday. Mount Nam is a well-known feature of central Seoul, and the plan extends to surrounding areas, including the bustling Myeong-dong shopping district and Yejang Park.\n\nThe urban regeneration plan covers a total of 3.11 million square meters and includes 15 projects spread across four zones. Eight of these projects are still in the early stages and are intended to generate additional growth using the allotted funds. A pivotal component of the plan involves a gondola that will traverse approximately 832 meters from Yejang Park, situated close to Myeongdong Station, up to the mountain's peak. The gondola boasts the capacity to transport over 1,600 passengers per hour, significantly more than the current cable car. The city asserts that the gondola will facilitate easier access to the summit for wheelchair users and others with mobility limitations, while the profits generated from its operation will be funneled back into restoring the mountain's ecosystem.",
  "summary": "Seoul will spend 19.2 billion won ($14.2 million) through 2031 to restore forests on Mount Nam and build new attractions there, including a 360-degree observatory at the summit, the city government said Thursday. Located in central Seoul, Mount Nam is one of the capital city’s best-known landmarks. The city formally announced an urban regeneration plan for Mount Nam and nearby areas, including…",
  "key_points": [
    "Seoul invests $14.2M to develop Mount Nam into eco-tourism hub by 2031",
    "Plan includes 15 projects across 3.11M sq. meters in four zones",
    "Gondola system will transport 1,600 passengers/hour, improve accessibility"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Expanding accessibility through high-capacity transit and forest restoration signals a shift toward using commercial tourism revenue to fund the long-term ecological preservation of Seoul's central urban landmarks.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}