Hangang Bus Stops on Route to Jamsil at 8 p.m. on the 15th
City: "All Safety Procedures Functioned Properly"
Democratic Party Urged Not to Heighten Unnecessary Public Anxiety
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has issued an official apology regarding the incident in which a Hangang River bus suddenly stopped near the Jamsil Dock during operation. The city emphasized that all safety procedures functioned properly throughout the entire process following the accident.
On the 16th, in a statement released under the name of spokesperson Lee Minkyoung, the city said, "We apologize to citizens for the inconvenience caused by the temporary stop of Hangang Bus No. 102, operating on the 7th route to Jamsil, at a point 118 meters from Jamsil Dock at 8:25 p.m. on the 15th."
The statement continued, "Immediately after the accident, we prioritized passenger safety and make it clear that all safety procedures operated properly during the process."
According to the city, right after the accident, the relevant authorities-including the water rescue team, Hangang police unit, and Hangang headquarters-were immediately notified, and rescue boats were dispatched. By 9:18 p.m., all 82 passengers were safely transported to Jamsil Dock and sent home.
Spokesperson Lee stated, "Not a single injury occurred, and the rescue and response system at the scene was activated quickly and systematically according to the manual. The vessel also showed no external or mechanical damage as of now."
The city believes the accident occurred because sediment buildup caused the waterway to become shallower. Accordingly, the vessel will be moved during high tide for a detailed inspection.
Lee added, "Since the early days of Hangang Bus operations, we have continuously strengthened multiple safety measures, including enhancing vessel safety, upgrading water level monitoring, and improving dock management. All incidents and errors have been immediately made public and addressed, and there has never been any neglect of safety."
She further stated, "We will continue to put the lives and safety of citizens first, using this incident as an opportunity to conduct a more thorough review of the operating environment and to strengthen facilities, operations, and emergency response systems."
Meanwhile, Lee pointed out, "The Democratic Party of Korea should not exaggerate the safety issues of the Hangang Bus for political attacks or unnecessarily heighten public anxiety." Previously, the Democratic Party had criticized the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stating, "The city must immediately suspend all Hangang Bus operations and conduct a comprehensive review of the project."
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