Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). It is 6 a.m. on National Foundation Day, and Sokcho (속초) is 14°C under a sky with a few clouds. There is a question we often hear from people coming to Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장) on the first day of the holiday: 'I heard the Ferris wheel is being torn down. Can I ride it now?' To start with the conclusion, you can ride it today as well. However, the appellate trial that will decide the fate of this facility is in full swing, and the next hearing is set for Wednesday, October 28. That is 25 days from today. It is the first hearing since the court itself came down to Sokcho Beach fifteen days ago and examined the site for 1 hour and 30 minutes, so we have summarized how things got here and the procedures that remain.
The reason you can ride it now is that a 'stay of execution' is in place
On June 25, 2024, Sokcho City issued 11 administrative dispositions at once against the Ferris wheel operator. They include cancellation of the development activity permit, cancellation of the acceptance of the structure construction report, a corrective order for a change-of-use violation, an order to dismantle the Ferris wheel and boarding building along with a notice of administrative execution by proxy, and cancellation of the permit to occupy and use public waters along with an order to restore the site to its original state. Under those dispositions it should have stopped 2 years ago, but the court granted the stay of execution that the operator applied for together with its lawsuit, and operation has continued.
The critical moment came early this year. On January 21, the operator lost at the first trial (Chuncheon District Court Gangneung Branch, Administrative Division 1), and the stay of execution at the first-trial stage was effective until February 20, 30 days after the ruling. One day before that, on February 19, Administrative Division 1 of the Seoul High Court Chuncheon Bench, which is handling the appeal, granted the stay of execution again on the grounds that 'irreparable harm could occur, and suspending the dispositions would have no serious impact on public welfare.' So the Ferris wheel will keep turning until the appellate trial reaches a conclusion.
- Size: 65 m tall (about a 20-story apartment building), 36 six-passenger cabins, about 15 minutes per rotation
- Opening: March 2022, total project cost of 9.2 billion KRW in private investment
- Visitors: reported to draw about 1 million visitors a year
At 2 p.m. on September 18, the court stood on Sokcho Beach
The on-site inspection was decided at the second appellate hearing, held on July 15. The operator's side requested it, and Sokcho City submitted the opinion that it was not necessary. The court granted the request, saying that since the legality of the licensing and permitting process is the key issue, it needed to see the location and form of the Ferris wheel in person. So, for 1 hour and 30 minutes from 2 p.m. on September 18, the court and representatives of both sides went around the Sokcho Beach area, and the inspection was conducted behind closed doors.
The problems Sokcho City pointed out there are reported to fall broadly into four.
- That the facility was permitted as a temporary building even though it includes high-voltage electrical equipment
- That the Ferris wheel and boarding building were installed encroaching on public waters
- That cultural and assembly facilities should make up at least half, but in reality customer-drawing facilities such as cafes account for a larger share
- That there is a safety problem because the area has suffered flooding and heavy-rain damage
The operator's side is said to have rebutted these claims one by one. The operator's basic position has been the same from the start: it received licenses and permits from Sokcho City and carried out the project in good faith, so it is unjust to cancel those licenses and permits now. The fact that it was Sokcho City that both granted the permits and cancelled them is what makes this case complicated.
Why did the first trial side with Sokcho City?
The controversy started with allegations of favoritism in the process of selecting the operator. The Board of Audit and Inspection pointed out that Sokcho City announced the public tender guidelines in violation of its guidelines and changed the evaluation method in favor of a particular company. Then an inspection by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety uncovered illegalities in the licensing and permitting process, and the ministry demanded that the city resolve the illegalities and discipline those involved. The 11 dispositions of June 2024 were the follow-up measures.
The first-trial court found that Sokcho City conducted the hearing in the manner prescribed by the Administrative Procedures Act. It also judged that, because the Ferris wheel is installed encroaching on a natural green zone where amusement facilities cannot be placed, there is no way other than dismantling to restore the public interest that the laws seek to protect. The ruling also included the point that the operator knew of the illegality or failed to know of it through gross negligence. The key question is whether this judgment will be upheld on appeal, or whether the court that saw the site in person will view it differently.
The Ferris wheel is not stopping on October 28
Many people misunderstand after looking only at the date, so let us be clear. October 28 is the third hearing date. It is the day both sides continue their arguments over the results of the on-site inspection, not the day a ruling is handed down. The date of the ruling has not yet been set.
- If you are a traveler: Even on an autumn foliage trip in late October, riding itself is expected to be possible regardless of the trial. If your plans are for after the end of the year, check whether news of a ruling comes out in the meantime.
- If you are a resident or merchant: Even when the appellate ruling comes out, the losing side can appeal to the Supreme Court. It is highly likely to take more time before it is finally settled whether the wheel will actually be demolished.
With the Yeongnangho Lake (영랑호) floating bridge having entered demolition procedures and the Ferris wheel now also on trial, some are saying, 'Aren't Sokcho's landmarks disappearing one after another?' However, the floating bridge is a matter that has already been concluded while the Ferris wheel is still being contested, so it is hard to see the two as being at the same stage.
If you ride this holiday, today and tomorrow during the day are best
Today Sokcho has a high of 20°C and a 0% chance of rain, and the sea is calm with a wave height of 0.4 m. The Korea Meteorological Administration forecast that the whole country will be mostly clear through the 3rd. From the night of the 4th to the morning of the 5th, rain accompanied by gusts, thunder and lightning is forecast mainly for the central region, and on the 5th waves on the East Sea (동해) could rise to the level of a high seas advisory. The Ferris wheel is a facility whose operation is adjusted according to weather conditions, so rather than putting it off until Monday the 5th, the substitute holiday, it is safer to ride today or tomorrow during the day.
- Time of day: Today's sunrise was at 06:22, and the sun sets toward Seoraksan (설악산) at around 6:06–6:07 in the evening. If you ride 20–30 minutes before sunset, you will see the Seorak ridgeline in the sunset glow through one window and the sea through the other.
- Clothing: With 14°C in the morning and 20°C in the daytime, there is a temperature gap, and the beach feels chillier because of the wind. Bring an outer layer to put on while you wait in line.
- Operating hours and fares: On weekends and public holidays it is announced as starting at around 10 a.m., but this varies with the weather. Please check the on-site notices before you visit.
- Getting around: According to 속초어때 real-time data, as of 6 a.m. Dongmyeong Port (동명항) and Deungdae Beach (등대해변) are very crowded with sunrise watchers, and Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로) and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로) are all moving slowly. Today is the second day of the Seorak Cultural Festival (설악문화제), and there are street parades on Rodeo Street (로데오거리) at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., so if you are passing through downtown, it is best to avoid those times.
- The sea: The water temperature is 22.2°C, still warm, but the beach has closed for the season and there are no lifeguards. Please enjoy it only to the extent of dipping your feet.
Today we looked at why the Sokcho Ferris wheel is still operating, the issues at the September 18 on-site inspection, and what the October 28 hearing means. Was it helpful? We will be back next time with even more useful information.
