A Hangang Bus is docked at Magok Pier in Gangseo District, Seoul, Sept. 15, 2025. Newsis
Seoul’s ambitious but troubled river ferry service, the Hangang Bus, will return to full operation on Sunday, ending a months-long hiatus triggered when one of the vessels ran aground last year. The restart marks a high-stakes moment for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has staked significant political capital on the project despite a series of mechanical and safety hurdles.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that all safety measures have been completed to resume full service along the 28.9-kilometer route from Magok in western Seoul to Jamsil in the city’s southeast.
Last November, two months after launch, a vessel carrying 82 passengers ran aground in a shallow stretch near Jamsil Dock after its hull struck the riverbed, forcing it to a halt. Since then, service has been restricted to the western section between Magok and Yeouido.
Inspired by London’s River Bus on the Thames, the Hangang Bus was launched in September last year but faced safety concerns from the outset, including worries about the river’s shallow average depth of 3 to 4 meters.
Before resuming service, the city government said it surveyed an 8.9-kilometer stretch between Apgujeong and Jamsil docks, dredged shallow sections and cleared underwater debris to ensure safe navigation.
It also installed an alarm system to prevent route deviations and replaced buoys in the accident zone with taller, more visible ones, raising them from 1.4 meters to 4.5 meters to improve guidance and nighttime safety.
In a November joint inspection with the central government, authorities identified 120 issues, including navigation-related concerns. Of those, 96 have been addressed, with the remaining 24 slated for completion in the first half of this year.
Routes will be consolidated around the Yeouido pier to improve efficiency and safety, splitting into an eastern line linking Jamsil and Yeouido and a western line connecting Magok and Yeouido. Under the revised system, each route will operate 16 round trips a day at roughly one-hour intervals.
On the Jamsil–Yeouido route, the first departure is at 10:00 a.m., with the last arrival at 8:27 p.m. On the Magok–Yeouido line, the first vessel leaves at 10:20 a.m., and the final arrival is at 7:32 p.m.
Source: Korea Times News
