[Report] "It's Great to Be Out in the Open"... Hangang Bus Carries Citizens for the First Time

Despite the Sweltering Heat, 100 Citizens Gather
Enjoying Landmarks Through Panoramic Windows
"It's Nice That There Are No Traffic Jams Unlike on the Road"
Improvements Needed in Cooling Efficiency and Noise

On the afternoon of the 1st, at Hangang Park near Yeouinaru Station in Seoul, 100 citizens gathered despite the weather being so hot that sweat poured down just by standing still. They were there to experience the first-ever ride on the "Hangang Bus." Citizens of all ages, from young children in strollers and pregnant newlyweds to middle-aged adults, all wore expectant smiles. As the Hangang Bus officially departed from the dock, passengers enthusiastically took commemorative photos with landmarks such as the Han River bridges and the 63 Building visible through the panoramic windows.

[Report] "It's Great to Be Out in the Open"... Hangang Bus Carries Citizens for the First Time

On the 1st, passengers who experienced riding the Hangang bus took commemorative photos. Photo by Kim Youngwon

The Hangang Bus is a new water transportation system introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, set to operate in earnest in the second half of this year. It will run between a total of seven docks: Magok, Mangwon, Yeouido, Oksu, Apgujeong, Ttukseom, and Jamsil. This day marked the first trial operation for citizens and tourists, with the journey from Yeouido to Ttukseom taking 40 minutes and from Ttukseom to Jamsil taking about 10 minutes.

Citizens cited the ability to travel on the open Han River, unlike congested roads, as a key advantage. Lee Jihoo (11), who came from Uijeongbu, said, "Buses on the road have to stop, but the Hangang Bus runs on the Han River and doesn't have to stop, which is great. I think I would like to ride it again if I come to the Han River with my parents." Choi Inhyeon (34), who boarded with his wife, said, "It's nice to have a wide view of the city, and there are no cars blocking the way, so it's convenient," adding that he would consider using it for commuting.

Citizens are waiting inside the Yeouido dock of the Han River One-Person Bus for an experiential ride. Photo by Kim Youngwon

However, there was feedback that the convenience for pregnant women should be improved. Choi's wife, Kim Kyungmi (38), said, "It's fine now because there aren't many people during the trial ride, but I think there will be more passengers in the future. It would be nice if there were designated seats for pregnant women."

There were also common points raised by the passengers. Although the temperature reached 32 degrees Celsius and the weather was hot, the cabin was not cool even with several air conditioners running. Some passengers fanned themselves with the Hangang Bus guidebook or stood directly under the ceiling air conditioners. Although the temperature was lower than outside, passengers sweated throughout the entire hour-long ride.

Noise was also generated when the power source switched from battery to generator as the vessel began full operation after departure. The Hangang Bus uses a hybrid system powered by both lithium-ion batteries and a diesel generator. After departure, an onboard announcement stated, "We are now switching from battery mode to generator mode. Please understand that some noise may occur." As the announcement was made, a humming noise and vibration could be felt in the middle and rear of the vessel. While communication was not a problem, passengers had to raise their voices above a certain level.

Regarding these issues, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Future Hangang Headquarters explained, "Currently, each outdoor unit is connected to two air conditioners, which reduces cooling efficiency. We will work to improve efficiency based on citizen feedback from the trial rides." Concerning the noise, the official said, "Raising the height of the vessel could reduce generator noise, but there is a limitation due to the Jamsu Bridge, which prevents us from increasing the height indefinitely. After receiving feedback about the noise, we installed sound-absorbing materials in the generator room to lower the decibel level."