Balloon trip over Hwaseong Fortress launches today

Balloon trip over Hwaseong Fortress launches today. August. 11, 2016 06:57. by 남경현기자 bibulus@donga.com. From now on, people can look down the landscape of Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO-designated cultural heritage site, from up in the sky.

Suwon City said Wednesday it will install "Flying Suwon," a helium-filled balloon linked with ropes to the parking lot of Changryongmoon in Paldal District, which will be in operation from Thursday. "Flying Suwon" is 32 meters high and 22 meters wide, and can accommodate up to 20 people. It goes up 70-150 meters allowing people to look down Hwaseong Fortress and downtown Suwon for about seven minutes. Observation time is about 20 minutes including ascending and descending time. Sixty people can ride the balloon per hour, allowing up to 780 people per day.

Balloon trip over Hwaseong Fortress will open throughout the year, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Operation stops if wind speed exceeds 13 meters per minute. Fare is 18,000 won (16.45 U.S. dollars) per adult, 16,000 won (14.6 dollars) for teenagers and 15,000 for children (13.7 dollars). Each person can get a 2,000 won (1.8 dollars) discount for a group of more than 10. Suwon citizens, regardless of age, can pay just 12,000 won (11 dollars).

"Flying Suwon" was manufactured under the regulations of the European Joint Aviation Authorities in a bid to prevent safety accidents. The Suwon city government will carry out regular check-up by the Korea Transportation Safety Authority once a month, and will also promote comprehensive check-up each month.

Skyworld Co., the firm in charge of the balloon, already operates Korea's sole helium-filled balloon in Bomoon Complex in Gyeongju. "We expect Flying Suwon to become a key tourism product that can publicize Suwon Hwaseong," Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-young said.