Hangang Bus to resume operations after safety overhaul

A Hangang Bus passenger ferry is seen operating near Mapo Bridge in Seoul, Sept. 23. The service is set to resume after a monthlong safety inspection. Newsis

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 initial launch, two vessels will be assigned for each time slot, with one serving as backup to ensure uninterrupted service.

Fares remain unchanged ― 3,000 won ($2.10) for adults, 1,800 won for youth and 1,100 won for children ― with transit card transfer discounts and an unlimited ride “Hangang Bus Pass” available for an extra 5,000 won.

“We completed essential safety and quality upgrades through this stabilization period, and will continue improving the service so the Hangang Bus becomes a trusted water transport system for Seoul citizens,” said Park Jin-young, the project director.

The launch of the service, envisioned as a new eco-friendly waterborne public transit system connecting seven Han River docks, was one of the key projects initiated under Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who is widely expected to seek another term in the next local elections, scheduled to be held in June 2026.

For this reason, the project has been under intense scrutiny by the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) politicians, who seek to challenge him in the elections.

On Sunday, DPK lawmakers on the National Assembly's Land Infrastructure and Transport Committee said they will file a complaint against Oh with the police, alleging mismanagement and breach of trust over the project’s financing.

The lawmakers claimed Seoul Housing & Communities Corp. (SH) made an unsecured loan of 87.6 billion won to private operator E-Cruise ― which holds a 49 percent stake in the Han River Bus Corp. ― without proper collateral. They said it would be tantamount to breach of trust, adding that SH would lose money as an investor if E-Cruise becomes a defaulter.

In response, Kim Byung-min, Seoul’s deputy mayor for political affairs, expressed regret and condemned attempts to use the ferry project for political gain.

“The loan decision was made transparently by SH in accordance with laws and procedures,” he said. “There’s no provision in the Local Public Enterprises Act prohibiting loans. It was a legitimate management act that went through board reporting and legal consultations.”