Seoul is building the second largest Ferris wheel in the world

SEOUL: The world’s second tallest Ferris wheel will be built along the Han River in Seoul’s west district, the city government announced on Wednesday.

The 180-meter-diameter Seoul Ring with a completely hollow center will be located in an eco-theme park in Sangam-dong and will offer a bird’s-eye view of the capital city, according to Yonhap News, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Area Government Agency.

It will be the second tallest ferris wheel after Ain Dubai, the tallest and largest ferris wheel in the world, and the largest ferris wheel without spokes. There is currently only one spokeless wheel in China called the Bohai Eye.

The futuristic structure will have 36 cabins, each capable of carrying 25 passengers, officials said.

The attraction will accommodate 1,747 people per hour and up to 11,792 people per day, city officials said.

“Between 15 and 20 percent of tourists to the UK and Singapore use the London Eye or Flyer,” Hong Sun-ki, a city government official, told a news conference, adding that the Seoul Ring is expected to bring in more than average 3.5 million tourists a year.

The 400 billion won ($304 million) project is proposed under the Build-Transfer-Operate (BTO) program, the government said. Groundbreaking is scheduled for June 2025, with a goal of completion by December 2027, officials said.

According to the report, the lower part of the landmark will include an exhibition hall about the park, which used to be Seoul’s landfill.

The city government wants to promote the Seoul Ring, powered by 100 percent renewable energy, as a landmark symbolizing its eco-friendly policies.

The spokeless wheel does not actually rotate, rather each cab or sleeve attached to a gear orbits the circumference of the wheel. -Bernama