"The Final Piece in the Han River Puzzle":
Eco-Friendly Technology in the Spotlight
Enhanced Safety Measures After Incident, Including Dredging
The "Han River Bus," Seoul's new waterborne public transport service, officially resumed full operations on March 1 after completing safety measures. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon visited the site in person that day, describing the Han River Bus as a core infrastructure that will enhance Seoul’s appeal, and expressed his commitment to stabilizing its operations.
On the afternoon of March 1, Mayor Oh boarded the Han River Bus at Ttukseom Pier, closely inspecting its onboard facilities and safety equipment. During his visit, he emphasized, “The Han River Bus, the final piece of the puzzle for Seoul’s gem, the Han River, is essential infrastructure to boost the city’s attractiveness and competitiveness.”
Mayor Oh particularly praised the Han River Bus for its eco-friendly credentials. He noted, “Recently, vessel operators from London’s Thames and New York’s Hudson River were impressed by the technology of the Han River Bus, an eco-friendly electric vessel with low noise and vibration.” He added, “By operating year-round and continuously collecting data, we will further refine and stabilize the operational system.”
Since a grounding incident in November last year, the Han River Bus had only been operating partially between Magok and Yeouido. To prevent a recurrence, the Seoul Metropolitan Government completed rigorous safety measures, such as dredging the route and replacing buoys, and resumed full service on all sections from today.
The route system was also reorganized to improve operational efficiency. Focusing on Yeouido Pier, which has the highest passenger demand, the service is now divided into eastern (Jamsil-Yeouido) and western (Magok-Yeouido) sections. For each route, 16 round-trip services operate at approximately one-hour intervals.
On the first day of resumed operations, citizens and tourists flocked to the Han River piers to experience the new mode of transportation. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, a total of 3,018 passengers boarded the Han River Bus by 5 p.m. that day.
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