Over 10,000 Passengers in Just Three Days of Official Operation
Average Seat Occupancy at 80% with High Citizen Satisfaction
127 Minutes to Travel the Entire Route Remains a Drawback
The "Han River Bus," Seoul's new waterborne transportation service, surpassed 10,000 passengers just three days after its official launch.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as of 6 p.m. on September 21, the cumulative number of Han River Bus passengers reached 10,014. This figure excludes September 20, when operations were suspended due to water discharge from the Paldang Dam, and covers the period since official service began on September 18. On the first day, both the first upbound and downbound buses departed at full capacity. The daily passenger counts were 4,361 on September 18, 2,696 on September 19, and 2,957 on September 21. The average seat occupancy rate was 80.1%.
A citizen satisfaction survey also showed a majority of positive responses, with 82% citing "comfortable interior space," 77% "comfortable seating," and 70% "stable operation."
"Enjoying the Sunset and Night View"...Tourism and Healing Functions
The Seoul Metropolitan Government emphasized that the Han River Bus offers more than just transportation, providing passengers with "healing time" as they enjoy sunsets and night views along the Han River. Passengers can take in major Seoul landmarks such as 63 Building, Parc One, Hangang Railway Bridge, and Nodeul Island at a glance. Additionally, the dockside experience zones-where visitors can connect with the Runner Station or bicycle services and enjoy ramen or fried chicken-are gaining popularity among international tourists.
Currently, the Han River Bus operates 14 times daily-seven trips in each direction-along the 28.9-kilometer route between Magok and Jamsil. Starting October 10, after the Chuseok holiday, weekday round trips will increase to 30, and a new express route with 15-minute intervals during rush hour will be introduced. On weekdays, service starts at 7 a.m., while on weekends, the first bus departs at 9:30 a.m., with operations running until 10:30 p.m.
Park Jinyoung, head of the Future Han River Headquarters at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "We will carefully listen to the feedback from citizens and tourists and continue to improve Han River Bus operations and dock management, prioritizing safety and convenience."
Commuting Efficiency Remains a Challenge
However, since the Han River Bus was originally planned as an alternative commuting option, concerns remain regarding actual travel times. Currently, it takes 127 minutes to travel the entire route from Magok to Jamsil on a regular Han River Bus. The new express route, scheduled to begin on October 10, will reduce this to 82 minutes, but the same distance can be covered in about 40 minutes using the express service on Subway Line 9.
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