Location: Yeouido, Seoul | Category: Aerial Attraction | Best For: Sunset chasers, Photography enthusiasts, First-time visitors
A 22-meter illuminated balloon floats 130 meters above the Han River in Yeouido Park. Launched in August 2024, SEOULDAL (Seoul + 달/moon) offers open-air views of Seoul's skyline that you won't get from traditional tower observatories.
Here's everything you need to know.
At a Glance
Address: 68 Yeouigongwon-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Price: ₩25,000 adults / ₩20,000 youth (ages 13-18) / ₩15,000 children (ages 3-12)
Duration: 15 minutes (10-12 minutes at peak altitude)
Height: 100-150 meters (varies by wind conditions)
Capacity: Up to 20 passengers (reduced in strong winds)
Hours: Tue-Sun: 12 PM - 10 PM (Weekends 10 AM - 10 PM during peak seasons) | Closed Mondays
Booking: Klook, KKday, Trip.com, or walk-up
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before scheduled time
Why Visit?
Unlike N Seoul Tower or Lotte World Tower, SEOULDAL puts you outdoors—no glass barriers, no enclosed elevators. The tethered balloon system (similar to those in Paris and Budapest) means you're floating rather than climbing, with the Han River directly below and city lights spreading in all directions.
Since launch, over 50,000 riders have taken the flight, with international visitors making up roughly 20% (Seoul Tourism Organization, Oct 2024). Peak demand centers on sunset slots (6-8 PM) when the city transitions from daylight to illuminated skyline.
The catch: Operations depend entirely on weather. Wind speeds above 10 m/s ground the balloon, and forecasts change hourly. More on that below.
What You'll See
The View
At altitude, Yeouido's layout becomes clear: the National Assembly complex west, IFC towers east, Han River cutting north-south. On clear days, Bukhansan mountain appears 16 km north. The gondola doesn't rotate—you move around the circular railing to see different directions.
Daytime (11 AM - 5 PM): Best for understanding Seoul's geography. Bridges, parks, and building clusters are easy to identify. Photographers prefer this light for sharp cityscape shots.
Sunset (6-8 PM): Golden hour transitions to blue hour as office lights activate. These slots book out fastest—reserve 1-2 weeks ahead during spring/autumn.
Nighttime (8-9:30 PM): The balloon glows from below, becoming part of the skyline. Bridge lights trace the Han's curves. This is when SEOULDAL works as both viewing platform and landmark.
What Happens During the Flight
Check-in → Safety briefing (5 min) → Board gondola → Vertical ascent (2-3 min) → 10-12 minutes at peak → Descent. The platform stays stable—no swaying or rotation. English announcements identify major landmarks, though detail varies by operator.
All passengers stand throughout (no seating). Children under 3 cannot board due to height restrictions.
Getting There
By Subway:
- Yeouido Station (Line 5), Exit 3: Walk north through the park past basketball courts (~10 min). The balloon is visible if operations are running.
- National Assembly Station (Line 9), Exit 3: Similar 10-minute walk through different park sections.
Park signage in English is limited—look for the balloon itself as your landmark.
By Taxi/Rideshare: Tell the driver "Yeouido Park Grassy Field" (여의도공원 잔디마당). Park access restrictions may require drop-off on nearby roads rather than at the site entrance. From IFC Mall area: ~15-minute walk.
Booking & Weather
How to Book
Online (recommended): Klook, KKday, or Trip.com accept international cards. Booking secures your time slot but doesn't guarantee flight—weather determines that on the day.
Walk-up: Available when operations are running and capacity permits. Weekday afternoons (2-4 PM) typically have shorter waits than weekends or sunset hours.
Weather Reality Check
SEOULDAL cancels frequently. Wind, rain, or low visibility can ground operations with <1 hour notice. Here's how to manage:
- Check before you go: Call Dasan Call Center (☎ 120 from Korean phones, ☎ +82-2-120 from abroad, 24/7, English available) or check Instagram @seouldal_official for real-time updates.
- Build in flexibility: Plan 2-3 possible days during your Seoul trip. Treat SEOULDAL as a bonus, not a locked itinerary item.
- Best seasons: Spring (April-June) and autumn (September-November) have highest operational success rates. Summer brings humidity and typhoons; winter brings stronger winds.
- Reschedule policy: Canceled flights can be rescheduled for another day or refunded. Contact your booking platform directly.
Practical Tips
Dress in layers: Temperature drops 3-5°C at altitude. Even mild days feel cooler 130 meters up, especially during ascent/descent when air movement increases.
Camera settings: The gondola is stable enough for handheld shots. For night photography, pre-set manual exposure (ISO 800-1600, f/2.8-4.0, 1/60-1/125 shutter). Autofocus struggles with changing light through clouds.
Timing strategy:
- Avoid Monday (maintenance closure)
- Sunset slots (6-8 PM): Book 10-14 days ahead
- Weekday afternoons (2-4 PM): Shortest waits, good for walk-ups
- Last launch (9:30 PM): Fewer crowds but limited views if you want both sunset + night
What to skip: Don't bring large bags—there's no storage on the gondola. Photography is unrestricted, but operators may ask passengers to rotate away from crowded spots (particularly the north-facing Han River view).
Good to Know
- Safety: Helium-based system (non-flammable), continuous tether to ground—no free-floating moments.
- Accessibility: Must be able to stand for 15 minutes. No elevator access to gondola boarding area.
- Language: English announcements during flight. Ground staff English proficiency varies.
- Combining with other Yeouido spots: IFC Mall (15-min walk), 63 Square Observatory (20-min walk), Han River bike path rentals nearby.
Is It Worth It?
For ₩25,000, you get 15 minutes of unobstructed aerial views. Whether that's worth it depends on your priorities:
Go if: You want perspectives traditional observatories can't offer (open-air, river-centered), have schedule flexibility for weather cancellations, or are visiting during spring/autumn when conditions cooperate most.
Skip if: Your Seoul schedule is tight (weather risk too high), you prefer guaranteed experiences over atmospheric ones, or you've already booked Lotte World Tower/N Seoul Tower and don't need multiple observation points.
The Han River's role in Seoul's layout becomes obvious from above—how it divides the city, where density clusters, how green corridors interrupt urban fabric. SEOULDAL provides that clarity, when weather allows.
📌 Quick Reference
Official site: SEOULDAL Official Updates Page
Real-time updates: @seouldal_official (Instagram)
Info hotline: ☎ +82-2-120 (Dasan Call Center, 24/7, English available)
Booking: Klook | KKday | Trip.com |
Location: Yeouido Park Grassy Field, Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul