Seoul's Han River ferry / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
The "Hangang Bus," Seoul’s ambitious river ferry service, reached a new milestone this month as ridership surged to record levels.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said Wednesday that 70,000 passengers rode the Han River Bus from April 1-27, with three sailing days remaining in the month. The city projected that total April ridership would exceed 75,000. The single-day record was set Sunday, when 5,212 passengers boarded. By comparison, March total ridership stood at 62,491.
Weekend figures reflect the upward trend. The most recent weekend drew 10,247 passengers, up roughly 15.2 percent from 8,897 on the first weekend of the month, April 4-5.
The city also announced plans to open a temporary dock near Seoul Forest starting May 20, timed to coincide with the Seoul International Garden Expo running May 1 through Oct. 27 at Seoul Forest.
A dedicated express route connecting Yeouido dock to the temporary Seoul Forest dock will be added. The temporary dock, previously restricted to city government vessels, will be opened to the public for the first time.
A garden area linking the dock and Seoul Forest will be developed to provide visitor rest space, alongside infrastructure improvements, including upgrades to the Seongsu Sky Bridge and pedestrian pathways.
The city said it is also reviewing ways to boost ancillary revenue through onboard and dockside facilities, including cafes, a chicken pub and a convenience store, as well as expanded advertising and event programming.
Detailed schedules will be posted at hgbus.co.kr.
This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
