Hangang Bus to resume operations after safety overhaul
After a monthlong suspension prompted by safety concerns, the Hangang Bus ferry service will resume operations Saturday, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said Monday. The relaunch comes after the city government subjected its fleet to intensified no-passenger trial runs intended to stabilize performance, collect more data and allow for crew retraining following a rudder failure that forced an emergency return 10 minutes after departure on Sept. 26. During the inspection, transit authorities worked to enhance the safety and reliability of the river bus. Officials say this trial period also allowed the city government to build contingency plans for adverse weather and technical emergencies — challenges that had triggered service interruptions and frustrated ferry users previously. When the service resumes, the Hangang Bus will run more frequently and with additional backup vessels. The revised schedule begins at 9 a.m., two hours earlier than before, and continues until 9:37 p.m. with departures every 90 minutes, totaling 16 trips per day. To avoid cancellations, which plagued the initi
