No Engine Sound at All — They Say 9.8 Park Is Tucked into Aewol's Mid-Mountain
said to ride straight into the mid-mountain wind on the way down
Traveling through Jeju's mid-mountain area, there's one spot whose name has been coming up more and more lately. It's 9.8 Park, said to be located somewhere in the mid-mountain area of Aewol-eup — introduced as a non-motorized cart, or go-kart type, experience facility that's said to run purely on the slope of a hill and gravity, without an engine or any separate power source. That said, this is said to be a relatively new spot whose information hasn't been widely organized yet, so today GYULI would like to introduce it carefully, focusing on the stories that are said to be circulating rather than claiming anything as confirmed fact. Rather than a precise location or operating details, let's focus together on this unique 'non-motorized' way of experiencing speed.
Somewhere in Aewol's Mid-Mountain, Said to Keep the Natural Terrain Intact
The exact address of 9.8 Park hasn't been confirmed, but it's said to be located somewhere in the mid-mountain area of Aewol-eup, Jeju-si. When people think of Jeju's mid-mountain region — the land between the coast and Hallasan, dotted with gentle oreum and grassland — 9.8 Park is said to be a space built by making use of that same natural slope and terrain, rather than altering it. Instead of putting up large new structures, it's said that the track was laid out using the existing ups and downs of the hill itself, according to several visitor accounts.
Perhaps because of this approach of leaving the natural terrain untouched, 9.8 Park is often introduced with the phrase 'eco-friendly theme park.' Rather than paving a new artificial track in concrete, the facility is said to draw the mid-mountain area's terrain, grassland, and wind directly into the experience itself — a point that seems to set it apart from other activity facilities. Exactly how the construction was carried out isn't something that can be confirmed here, but it's said to give the impression of a facility built without going too far against Jeju's natural landscape.
Hearing that you ride down listening to the wind instead of an engine made me think the feeling must be quite different, even for the same kind of cart ride.
— 🍊 GYULIUphill With No Effort, Downhill Powered by Nothing but Gravity
The 9.8 Park experience is said to be divided into two broad stages. Going up the hill, riders are said to get a hand from some kind of lift or tow device, so there's no need to pedal or push; coming down from near the top, the cart is said to pick up speed using nothing but its own weight, the slope, and gravity — with no separate power source involved. Exactly what kind of tow device is used, or how long the uphill stretch is, isn't something with much confirmed detail available, so this article won't pin those specifics down. Still, the broad idea that uphill and downhill play these two different roles is a detail said to come up consistently across various sources.
Coming down with no motor at all seems to be the biggest draw of this experience. With no engine noise and no exhaust, speed is said to build purely from the slope and gravity — which makes it feel less like a ride and more like a chance to physically feel a law of physics at work. In particular, riding down while facing the open wind characteristic of Jeju's mid-mountain area is said to give a different sensation altogether from an indoor play facility or a typical motorized go-kart track. That said, specific figures like perceived speed or ride duration can vary depending on the timing and course setup, so it's best not to pin down exact numbers here.
The Story Behind the Name '9.8'
Hearing the name 9.8 Park for the first time, you might wonder what the number refers to. It's said that the number comes from 9.8 meters per second squared, the value of gravitational acceleration commonly taught in school — a nod to the fact that this is a cart that runs purely on the force of gravity, with no motor involved. The exact background behind the name hasn't been officially confirmed, but perhaps because it fits the concept of the experience so well, this explanation seems to come up again and again across different sources.
Being a relatively recently built spot, it seems that 9.8 Park's exact opening date and detailed operating information haven't been widely organized yet. Details directly relevant to planning a visit — like pricing, how to use the facility, or operating hours — are said to be the kind of thing that can change depending on the season, so rather than offering specific figures here, it's recommended that anyone planning a visit check the latest information separately beforehand. What does seem to come up consistently across various accounts is that it's a unique experience where you can physically feel Jeju's mid-mountain terrain and wind — worth keeping in mind while planning your visit.
GYULI's Tip · 9.8 Park is said to be a relatively newly known experience facility, and much of its exact location, pricing, and operating hours haven't been widely confirmed yet. If you're planning a visit, it's a good idea to check the latest information before you go.