Safety Measures Completed... Hangang Bus to Resume Operations on March 1

Dredging of Safe Navigation Routes, Replacement of Buoys in Accident Section
Safety Measures Including Installation of Route Deviation Prevention System
Yeouido-Centered Operations, Routes Split into Eastern and Western Sections

The Hangang Bus has completed safety measures and will resume normal operations across all routes from March 1.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 25th, the city conducted a detailed depth survey of the 8.9 km section of the route on the north side of Hannam Bridge (from Apgujeong to Jamsil docks) before resuming operations. Based on the survey results, it completed dredging in areas where sufficient depth was not secured and removed foreign objects from the riverbed.

Seoul City has completed safety measures for the Hangang Bus and will resume normal operations across the entire route starting March 1. The photo shows the Hangang Bus pier at Yeouido Hangang Park. Photo by Yonhap News

To address the route deviation issue that caused the accident and to improve the visibility of buoys, the city also established a route deviation prevention system that activates an alarm when a vessel veers off course. The buoys in the accident section were replaced with highly visible buoys (height increased from 1.4 m to 4.5 m), thereby enhancing route identification and night-time navigation safety.

The city also took action on 120 issues pointed out during a joint government inspection last November. It has completed measures for 96 items, including those directly related to navigation safety, and is working to complete the remaining 24 items within the first half of the year. In particular, operations will resume only after completing measures on 28 items that require regulatory improvements, such as partial loss of riprap and vegetation mats in the low-water channel and the absence of rest facilities for cleaning workers.

To enhance efficiency and stability, the service routes will be split into an eastern section (Jamsil-Yeouido) and a western section (Magok-Yeouido), centered on the high-demand Yeouido dock. With the route reorganized into a Yeouido-centered operation system, which has the highest boarding demand, the city expects passenger convenience to improve as 32 trips per day will operate from Yeouido toward both Jamsil and Magok.

The city will also prevent human error by ensuring adequate rest time for operating personnel. Due to the route split, transfers between the eastern and western routes at Yeouido will be free of charge. To prepare for passengers being concentrated at Yeouido dock, the city plans to further expand waiting and convenience spaces by utilizing the surrounding Hangang Park area.

From April, an express route connecting Jamsil-Yeouido-Magok without transfers will be added during commuting hours to alleviate congestion on existing public transportation. In May, when the Garden Expo is held at Seoul Forest, a temporary dock at Seoul Forest will also be operated for visitors.

Park Jinyoung, Director General of the Future Hangang Headquarters of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, said, "We will continue on-site inspections and improvements even after resuming operations across all routes, with passenger safety as our top priority," adding, "We will work closely with the operator to make Hangang Bus a trusted service for citizens by providing stable services."

Meanwhile, Hangang Bus Co., Ltd. will conduct a survey event from March 3 to 13, a ten-day period, to improve its services for Hangang Bus passengers aged 65 and older, offering participants the opportunity to ride for free. However, in consideration of safety due to passenger congestion at the docks, free rides will be available only on weekdays, excluding weekends.