The Seohae Waterway project, a major initiative of Oh Se-hoon's 'Great Hangang Project,' is set to gain full momentum.
On the 9th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will establish a new pier within Yeouido Hangang Park to expand the necessary infrastructure and activate vessel operations for navigation between the Hangang River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, ahead of the opening of Seoul Port scheduled for the first half of 2026.
The new pier will be located in the space between the southern end of Mapo Bridge and the planned site of Seoul Port. It is designed to accommodate vessels of various sizes simultaneously, aiming to facilitate the active movement of as many ships as possible.
Upon completion of the Yeouido pier, Seoul City plans to officially operate a regular navigation route (150 trips annually, based on one trip per day) between the Hangang River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway in cooperation with private shipping companies. The basic route will be Yeouido Pier ? Ara Gimpo Passenger Terminal ? Ara Incheon Passenger Terminal. In the future, the city intends to gradually expand the routes to include the West Sea islands and other destinations through collaboration with private shipping companies and neighboring local governments.
With the establishment of the Yeouido pier, from 2024 onwards, passenger ships of up to 1,000 tons will be able to dock within the Hangang River, enabling both Seoul citizens and domestic and international tourists visiting Seoul to enjoy linked water and land tourism routes.
For example, tourists can take a boat in the morning to experience various attractions such as Hangang River cruises and onboard performances, and in the afternoon, they can use bicycles brought on board or tour buses to visit famous sites and experience tours of the West Sea islands, enjoying a unique tourism experience exclusive to the Seohae Waterway.
Furthermore, once Seoul Port is established in the first half of 2026, 5,000-ton cruise ships departing from the West Sea will be able to dock in the Hangang River, allowing for port-of-call tourism including visits to Seoul’s landmarks. Cruises departing from the Hangang River will also be able to travel to Gunsan Port, Mokpo Port, and even Jeju Port, meeting the demands of a growing number of tourists visiting the Hangang River.
During the remaining period until the establishment of Seoul Port in 2026, Seoul City will regularly monitor vessels using the Yeouido pier to identify and resolve any issues arising from Seohae Waterway navigation.
This new pier construction project selected its operator through a private competition, and both the pier construction and vessel procurement will be carried out entirely with private capital. Seoul City will provide the necessary administrative support. Design work for the pier began in April 2023, with pilot vessel operations expected as early as January 2024, and full operations commencing from February 2024, after the Hangang River’s ice season ends.
Additionally, to strengthen public interest, Seoul City will operate the pier as an open facility, allowing vessels from other shipping companies wishing to operate on the Seohae Waterway to freely dock or berth in cooperation with the private shipping company constructing the pier. Moreover, based on the city’s policy philosophy of 'walking with the vulnerable,' Seoul plans to provide free boarding opportunities to about 2,000 socially disadvantaged individuals annually and support educational programs such as ship safety experiences and career exploration for elementary, middle, and high school students.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Port project is progressing smoothly, having completed the selection of contractors for the basic plan and feasibility study, with full-scale work starting in April. Furthermore, from as early as May, Seoul City will conduct environmental impact assessments to objectively understand the effects on aquatic ecosystems and prepare detailed countermeasures. It will also carry out studies analyzing the impact on fisheries near the main navigation channel of the Hangang River.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, “Foreigners marvel at the Hangang River, which runs through a city of 10 million people and has an impressive width of about 1 km with a vast volume of water. To lead the era of 30 million overseas tourists, starting with the construction of the Yeouido pier, we will concretize plans for regular navigation between the Hangang River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway and the opening of Seoul Port. At the same time, we will continue dialogues with environmental groups to devise supplementary measures and promote the project in a way that maximally preserves the naturalness of the Hangang River.”
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