City cuts annual fee to one-fifth of original rate, sparking preferential treatment controversy, to normalize operations of Seomjin River Starlight Sky zip-line
Gwangyang has moved to stabilize operations of its aerial descent facility, Seomjin River Starlight Sky, a zip-line attraction along the Seomjin River.
The city slashed the annual management fee to 31.79 million won ($20,600) — roughly one-fifth of the original rate — after the private operator threatened to cancel its contract, citing losses. The steep discount has drawn criticism over preferential treatment.
According to the city, led by Mayor Park Seong-hyeon, the revised contract followed an administrative appeals ruling in April. The city conducted a detailed review of actual operating performance and revenue since the facility opened, then recalculated an appropriate management fee before signing a new agreement.
The operator, which took over management when the facility opened in December 2024, had projected around 50,000 visitors a year, but actual usage came in at just 5 percent of that figure. The company began signaling last year that it intended to abandon the project.
"This contract resolves concerns about a suspension of operations and lays a stable foundation for running the facility, allowing residents and tourists to continue enjoying the zip-line experience," a city tourism official said.
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