Hangang Bus

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Hangang Bus
LocaleSeoul
WaterwayHan River
Transit typePassenger ferry
Began operationSeptember 18, 2025; 48 days ago (2025-09-18)
System length31.5 km (17.0 nmi; 19.6 mi)
No. of lines1
No. of vessels12
No. of terminals7

The Hangang Bus (Korean: 한강버스) is a water transportation system that operates on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea. It connects seven piers, from Magok to Jamsil, and runs 31.5 kilometres (17.0 nmi; 19.6 mi). Service began on September 18, 2025, but was temporarily suspended ten days later. It is eventually planned to operate both regular and express routes.[1][2]

History

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The idea for the Hangang Bus came from Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who had been inspired by ferries on London's River Thames.[3] On December 28, 2023, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and E-Cruise signed an agreement regarding the operation of the Hangang Bus. The Han River Bus Corporation was established on June 26, 2024.[4] A trial run was conducted starting in July 2025.[5][6]

The line opened on September 18, 2025.[7][8] Initially, it operated with reduced service frequencies,[9] since only four of the proposed twelve vessels were in service.[10][11] In its first ten days, the Hangang Bus had around 25,000 passengers.[12] The Hangang Bus faced criticism over its ₩150 billion (US$105 million) cost, which far exceeded the original cost estimate,[13] as well as a series of incidents that occurred following the start of service.[14][15] In the first ten days of the Hangang Bus's opening, vessels were forced to stop operating on three occasions.[11] The express line was scheduled to open on October 10, corresponding with the Chuseok holiday,[3] with regular service frequencies being implemented on that date.[9][16] Due to repeated technical issues and complaints over its speed, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on September 28 that regular service would be suspended for a month. The ferries were to undergo testing during that time.[10][11][12]

Operations resumed on November 1,[17][18] and the route recorded 10,000 passengers in the next three days.[19] When the Hangang Bus resumed, service frequencies were increased, and ferry service operated for a longer period during the day; in addition, two ferryboats were made available for each departure time so that, in case one vessel broke down, the other could provide backup service.[20] It faced criticism for being slower than the Seoul Metropolitan Subway and for making announcements only in Korean.[21]

Service

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The Hangang Bus is a ferry connecting Magok, Gangseo and Jamsil, Songpa along the Han River (Korean: 한강; RR: hangang), aiming to capture both commuter and tourist demand.[22][23] It is operated by Hangang Bus Co., Ltd., a joint venture between the Seoul Housing and Urban Development Corporation and E-Cruise, an affiliate of E-Land Group that operates Hangang cruise ships.[22] The Hangang Bus passes through seven piers: Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Apgujeong, Oksu, Ttukseom, and Jamsil. When the express route begins, it will run during peak hours, stopping only at Magok, Yeouido, and Jamsil.[2][24][9]

As of 2025, the Hangang Bus runs between 06:30 and 22:30 on weekdays (at 15-minute intervals during peak times, and 30-minute intervals at other times) and between 09:30 and 22:30 on weekends.[2] The actual schedule may be adjusted depending on vessel availability and demand.[2][25]

Before the Hangang Bus opened, commute times from Jamsil to Yeouido averaged 80 minutes, and commute times from Jamsil to Magok averaged 127 minutes.[3] The total travel time on the local route was supposed to be 75 minutes, while the travel time on the express route was supposed to be 54 minutes.[2][10] However, the vessels' speeds are limited by the shallowness of the Han River.[26] As a result, the local route's travel time is 127 minutes and the express route's travel time is 80 minutes.[10]

Ferries

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Vessel Year of construction Fuel Status Exterior
101 Gyeongbokgung
경복궁호 		2025 Hybrid In use
102 Hanyangdoseong
한양도성호 		2025 Hybrid In use
103 Namsan Seoul Tower
남산서울타워호 		2025 Hybrid In use

The ferries are named after various Seoul landmarks, such as the palace Gyeongbokgung and N Seoul Tower.[9] The ferries are catamaran-based, approximately 35 metres (115 ft) long, 9.5 metres (31 ft) wide, with a capacity of 199 passengers, and is designed to travel at an average speed of 17 knots (approximately 31.5 km/h).[25][27] Each vessel includes features such as cafeterias, tables, and wheelchair and bicycle spaces.[3] The vessels will be sequentially delivered, tested, and put into service, with a total of 12 vessels planned; the first two vessels arrived in February 2025.[24][28]

Of the planned vessels, four will be fully electric and the other eight will be hybrid-electric.[9] The goal is to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 52% compared to existing diesel ships through hybrid (lithium-ion battery and diesel generator) and electric propulsion configurations.[29][30][31] Six are to be manufactured by Eunseong Heavy Industries, two by Gadeok Heavy Industries, and four by Sungjin Engineering.[32] Originally, Gadeok was supposed to build six of the vessels, but due to delays, four of these vessels were reassigned to Sungjin.[33]

Before officially beginning operation, Hangang Bus vessels must pass safety and performance inspections by the Korea Maritime Safety Authority [ko], and only those that have received approval may be delivered.[34][35]

Fares and connections

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The one-way fare of ₩3,000 can be paid for using T-money or a Korean contactless card.[23] Holders of monthly Climate Card transit passes can also take unlimited rides on the Hangang Bus for an additional fee of ₩5,000.[23][2] To improve accessibility to the piers, free shuttle buses run between Magok, Jamsil, and Apgujeong piers and nearby Seoul Metropolitan Subway stations,[9] and bus routes were added or rerouted.[2][36] Furthermore, Ddareungi bicycle-share racks were added to the piers.[37]

References

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  1. ^ "Hangang River Bus – Water Transit & Scenic Tour on the Han River". VisitSeoul (Seoul Tourism Organization). 2025-07-24. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "템스강처럼 한강도 수상버스 도입… 마곡~잠실 물길 가른다" [Water buses to be introduced on the Han River, like the Thames... dividing the waterway between Magok and Jamsil]. Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). 2025-08-23. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. ^ a b c d Jung, Min-ho (2025-09-17). "Hangang Bus to transform daily lives of Seoul residents, mayor says". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  4. ^ "Agreement on the Business Agreement (Amendment) for the Han River Bus Operation Project". Seoul Metropolitan Council (Review Report). 2025-02-25. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  5. ^ Lee, Si-jin (2025-07-02). "Seoul's 1st water bus offers scenic commute, but its not all plain sailing". The Korea Herald (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  6. ^ "Seoul's first water bus offers scenic commute, but challenges remain". The Straits Times. 2025-07-02. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  7. ^ Lee, Jung-joo (2025-09-18). "Hangang Bus officially sets sail, to mixed reaction". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  8. ^ Jung, Seok-hwan; Yoon, Yeon-hae (2025-09-15). "Seoul launches Hangang Bus with night views, cultural spaces". Pulse (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Kim, Young-woo (2025-09-15). "한강버스, 18일 정식 운항 시작…급행은 다음 달 10일부터" [Han River Bus officially begins operation on the 18th... Express service begins on the 10th of next month.]. The Chosun Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  10. ^ a b c d Park, Ung (2025-09-28). "Seoul suspends Hangang Bus service amid safety concerns, public criticism". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  11. ^ a b c Han, Eun-hwa (2025-09-28). "Hangang Bus service suspended for further testing following mechanical failures". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  12. ^ a b Lee, Jung-joo (2025-09-28). "Seoul to halt water bus services, switch to trial runs before reopening". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  13. ^ "한강버스 1500억 혈세 논란[노컷체크]" [Controversy over the Han River Bus project, which cost 150 billion won in taxpayer money]. Nocut News (in Korean). 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  14. ^ Lee, Hae-rin (2025-09-24). "Seoul's Hangang Bus faces backlash over safety failures". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  15. ^ "한강버스, 방향타 이상으로 회항…세 번째 고장" [Han River bus turns around due to rudder malfunction, third breakdown]. Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). 2025-09-26. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  16. ^ "Hangang Bus service to start Thursday, but rush hour operations to come later". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  17. ^ "Revamped and finally punctual: Hangang Bus ferry marks successful reopening with high passenger count". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2025-11-02. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  18. ^ Kwon, Yong-hoon (2025-11-02). "돌아온 한강버스…정시 운항 '착착'" [The Han River Bus is back... On-time operation continues]. 한국경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  19. ^ "한강버스 운항 재개 닷새 만에 누적 탑승객 만 명 넘어" [The number of passengers on the Han River bus exceeded 10,000 in just five days since its resumption.]. KBS 뉴스 (in Korean). 2025-11-05. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  20. ^ Jung, Min-ho (2025-10-27). "Hangang Bus to resume operations after safety overhaul". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  21. ^ Hwang, Chae-young; Kim, Soo-ah; Son, Deok-ho (2025-11-05). "[르포] 한강버스 아침·저녁 타봤더니… "시간 오래 걸려" "외국어 안내 부족"" [[Report] I Rid the Morning and Evening Han River Buses... "It Takes a Long Time" and "There's Not Enough Information in Foreign Languages"]. 조선비즈 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  22. ^ a b "커피 마시며 '케데헌 명소' 지나간다…첫 물살 가른 한강버스" [Passing by the famous 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' landmark while sipping coffee… The first Han River bus to cut through the water.]. Joongang Ilbo (in Korean). 2025-09-18.
  23. ^ a b c Cho, Jung-woo (2025-08-19). "Hangang Bus to launch next month, ushering new possibilities for commuters and tourists". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  24. ^ a b Lee, Sang-in (2025-08-24). "수상 대중교통 '한강버스', 오는 9월 18일 본격 운항 개시 ... "한강 통해 출·퇴근과 관광을 동시에"" [Water public transportation 'Hangang Bus' to begin full operation on September 18th]. 퍼블릭뉴스통신(Public news-network for TTL) (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  25. ^ a b ""Hangang River Bus" Connects Jamsil to Yeouido in 30 Minutes". Seoul Metropolitan Government (English). 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  26. ^ Jung, Min-ho (2025-09-17). "Hangang Bus to transform daily lives of Seoul residents, mayor says". The Korea Times. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  27. ^ "2 Hangang River Buses Arrive on Han River; Pilot Service to Begin in March". KBS World. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  28. ^ Kim, Min-young (2025-02-27). "First new Han River ferries gear up for duty in Seoul". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  29. ^ "'한강버스' 2척 여의도 도착… 내달초 시범 운항 돌입" [Two Han River buses arrive in Yeouido, pilot operation to begin early next month.]. Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  30. ^ "First new Han River ferries gear up for duty in Seoul — in pictures". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2025-02-27. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  31. ^ "수상 대중교통 '한강버스', 오는 9월 18일 본격 운항 개시" [The water-based public transportation "Hangang Bus" will begin full operation on September 18th.]. TTL 뉴스 (in Korean). 2025-08-24. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  32. ^ Cha, Hyeong-jo (2025-10-02). "[단독] 한강버스 건조업체, 운영사 상대 선박 건조 금지 가처분 제기" [(Exclusive) Han River Bus Construction Company Files Injunction Against Operator to Block Ship Construction]. 비즈한국 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-10-03.
  33. ^ "공장 없는 업체가 한강버스 수주, 선지급만 210억…오세훈 "감사하겠다"" [A factoryless company wins a Han River bus contract, paying 21 billion won in advance payments... Oh Se-hoon: "I'm grateful."]. Hankyoreh (in Korean). 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2025-09-29.
  34. ^ "서울시대표소통포털" [[Explanatory Material] "One Month Left Before Operations Begin... Only Two 'Hangang Buses' Remain" Report]. Seoul City (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  35. ^ Jeong, So-yang (2025-09-11). ""시범운항 부족" vs "검사 통과"…한강버스 안전성 공방" ["Insufficient pilot operation" vs. "Passing inspection": The Han River Bus safety debate.]. 더팩트 (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-11-05.
  36. ^ "서울시대표소통포털" [Hangang Bus Service Ready! Buses and Free Shuttles Connecting Piers]. Seoul Media Hub (in Korean). Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  37. ^ "Hangang Bus Becomes More Accessible with Free Shuttle Buses Connecting Docks and Nearby Subway Stations -". Official Website of the Seoul Metropolitan Government. 2025-08-05. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
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  • Media related to Hangang Bus at Wikimedia Commons
  • Hangang Bus – Seoul Metropolitan Government