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The Seoul Ring, a 180-meter-tall observation wheel, will offer breathtaking views of Seoul. It will be constructed along the banks of the Han River, not far from the city’s main stadium. Previously, the site of this future attraction was the Sangam-dong city dump; it has since been transformed into Hanil Park, whose name means “sky.” This area is also called the “Gateway to Seoul.”
What sets this attraction apart is that, unlike most observation wheels, the Seoul wheel will have no spokes. This spokeless design is a relatively new engineering innovation, CNN reports.
In a press release, the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) said the Hanil Park site in the city’s northeast was chosen for several reasons, including its proximity to the border with North Korea. SMG says the giant wheel is intended to symbolize national unity.
Construction is planned to take two years, with work set to begin in 2025.
What This Attraction Will Be Like
The Seoul wheel is one of several projects in the area. Eco-friendly initiatives are already underway, and the government says the new wheel will use green technologies and be powered in part by solar panels.
The Seoul wheel will feature 36 capsule cabins, each able to hold up to 25 people. At full capacity it will transport 11,792 visitors daily.
These large steel capsules with panoramic windows will rotate slowly, giving passengers sweeping views. The wheel’s drive mechanism is similar to the system that powers airport moving walkways—except here the “walkway” moves in a circle.
Residents expect the spokeless wheel will become a cultural and entertainment landmark, drawing festival-goers and tourists.
The current tallest spokeless observation wheel is 145 meters tall and stands in Shandong Province, China. The tallest traditional-spoked wheel is Ain Dubai (the Dubai Eye), which opened on an artificial island in 2021 and reaches 250 meters. The London Eye, at 135 meters and a favorite of filmmakers, ranks sixth globally, after two giant wheels in China and ones in Singapore, the U.S., and the UAE.
