Seoul Dal—open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, the perfect night view spot

To put it simply, the correct way to enjoy Yeouido at night is now “eat first, then ride.” The tethered gas balloon Seoul Dal (서울달) will extend its operating hours until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only from August through October. From Sunday to Thursday, it will continue operating until 10 p.m. as before, with operations starting at noon every day.

Until now, the choices were either “skip dinner and ride first” or “leave it for the next day.” An extra hour may seem minor, but it changes how you plan your itinerary itself. Walking through Hangang Park and then ending the day with the night view—that route has now become realistic.

Here is everything from the prices and duration to how to make reservations, laid out in a format you can copy directly into your travel schedule for Korea. 🌙

The only change is “one extra hour on Fridays and Saturdays”

The extended hours apply to Fridays and Saturdays from August through October. Only on these days will operations continue until 11 p.m. On all other days, operations end at 10 p.m. with no change. The opening time is noon on every day of the week.

Day	Operating hours	Period
Friday and Saturday	12:00–23:00	August–October
Sunday–Thursday	12:00–22:00	Year-round

Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization cited growing demand for rides in the evening and the goal of extending visitors’ stays in Yeouido in conjunction with cultural events at Hangang Park as the reasons for the extension. After reviewing this year’s operating results, they are also considering expanding the extended period to April–October next year. （Source: Cheonji Ilbo／Seoul Metropolitan Government announcement）

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Adults pay 25,000 won. Don’t miss the discounts you may qualify for

The price list is simple. The various discounts are applied to these rates.

Category	Ride fare
Adults	25,000 won
Teenagers・65 and over	20,000 won
Children	15,000 won
Under 36 months	Free with a guardian

Discounts are 30% for people with disabilities, national meritorious persons, and users of the Multi-Child Happiness Card; 20% for groups of 20 or more; and 10% for Climate Companion Card (기후동행카드) holders. The last one is the most practically useful for travelers. If you have purchased a short-term pass for unlimited subway and bus travel, simply present it.

Tickets are also available on-site

On-site ticketing and online reservations are operated in parallel. Since this attraction is weather-dependent, if your schedule is not tight, you can check the sky on the day and decide whether to line up on-site. Conversely, Friday and Saturday nights may be crowded as this is the first season with extended hours, so online reservations are the safer option if you want to lock in a specific time.

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15-minute flight, 30-minute experience. What’s included

Seoul Dal may look like a hot-air balloon, but it is actually a tethered helium balloon connected to the ground by cables. It slowly ascends from Yeouido Park, reaching a maximum altitude of 130 meters.

Each flight lasts approximately 15 minutes. Adding the safety briefing before boarding and the time needed to get on and off, you should allow around 30 minutes for the entire experience. Each flight accommodates up to approximately 20 people, but both the number of passengers and the altitude may vary depending on wind strength and weather conditions.

Its main appeal is its open-air gondola, rather than an enclosed cabin behind glass. As you feel the night breeze, you can see the Han River, the National Assembly Building (국회의사당), Nodeulseom Island (노들섬), and the Namsan (남산) area through gaps between the high-rise buildings. Since opening in August 2024, cumulative ridership has surpassed 108,000. Of these, 40,726 were international visitors, with the proportion of international visitors rising from 40.2% last year to 43.6% in the first half of this year.✨

How to incorporate it into a night itinerary in Yeouido

This is the order made possible by the extended hours.

• 1️⃣ Evening — Take a walk in Hangang Park, or check out events and performances
• 2️⃣ Night — Have dinner around Yeouido
• 3️⃣ Around 9–10 p.m. — Ride Seoul Dal and finish with a night view

The key is to reserve a 30-minute slot for 3️⃣. If you calculate based on the 15-minute flight alone, the safety briefing and boarding and disembarking may cause delays and affect your next plans. Since operations end at 11 p.m., you will need to work backward if you are aiming for a time slot close to the final flight.

Editorial note: The scene is most picturesque when the buildings are lit up and car headlights stream across the bridges over the Han River. Sunset times differ significantly between summer and fall, so “what time counts as the night view” depends on the month of your trip to Korea.

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Check the sky before making a reservation

Seoul Dal is highly affected by strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning. Even if the sky is clear, operations may be delayed or canceled if wind speeds at altitude are too high. Before visiting, the safest option is to check the day’s flight status through the official operating announcement or the Dasan Call Center (다산콜센터).

In other words, if you include it in your itinerary, it is less stressful to treat it as an “if I can ride it, I will” option rather than something you are absolutely planning to ride. Yeouido has both Hangang Park and shopping facilities, so finding an alternative on a day when it cannot fly is not difficult.

Summary

If you are in Yeouido on a Friday or Saturday from August to October, you can book a Seoul Dal time slot by 11 p.m. after dinner. Adults: 25,000 won; flight: 15 minutes; experience: 30 minutes; maximum height: 130 m——with a Climate Companion Card, you get 10% off.

There are three things to do. Check whether your travel date is a Friday or Saturday → fit the 30-minute slot into your nighttime route → check the weather on the day. Planning in this order will make your night in Yeouido even more memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ride Seoul Dal without a reservation?

Yes. Both on-site ticketing and online reservations are available. However, Fridays and Saturdays from August to October are expected to be crowded due to extended operations until 11 p.m., so online reservations are recommended if you want to secure a specific boarding time.

What happens on rainy or windy days?

Operations will be delayed or suspended. Since the ride is greatly affected by strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning, it may not fly even in clear weather if the wind speed at altitude is too high. Before visiting, check whether flights will operate that day through the official operating announcement or the Dasan Call Center.

Can children ride as well?

Yes. The child fare is 15,000 won, and children under 36 months can ride free of charge when accompanied by a guardian. Each ride accommodates around 20 people at most, but keep in mind that the number of passengers and ascent altitude may vary depending on wind conditions.