Committee Boards Han River Bus From Yeouido to Magok to Check Operations
Cites Shortcomings as Public Transit... Urges Better Access and Connectivity
The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Transportation Committee visited the Yeouido cruise terminal and Han River bus docks on Monday during the 339th extraordinary session. Committee members inspected key convenience facilities and checked on-site operations by riding the Han River bus.
The visit, guided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Future Han River Headquarters, took the committee through the Yeouido cruise terminal and the Han River bus docks in turn. The committee then boarded the Han River bus running between Yeouido and Magok to check passenger convenience and operational safety.
The Han River bus project runs eight docks along a 31.5-kilometer stretch of the river from Gimpo Bridge to Jamsil Bridge. The project deploys a total of 12 eco-friendly vessels, including hybrid and electric boats, as part of an initiative linking public transportation with tourism.
As of the end of August, cumulative ridership on the Han River bus totaled 559,455, including 454,957 since full-route service resumed on March 1.
During the inspection, committee members said the Han River bus still falls short of establishing itself as a viable form of water-based public transportation. They urged the Future Han River Headquarters to strengthen its function as public transit by improving accessibility and connectivity, while making passenger safety the top priority.
Committee members first said the Han River bus remains inadequate as a genuine commuting option for residents, largely because its operations are still skewed toward tourism purposes.
They asked officials to examine whether a weekend differential fare system under consideration aligns with the bus service's original purpose as public transit and its goal of enhancing passenger safety. The system is being considered to ease congestion and prevent accidents caused by high weekend ridership, which stood at 51 percent.
In addition, committee members reiterated the need for a thorough safety management system and emergency response capabilities, checking whether systems such as CCTV monitoring were operating without disruption.
Han Shin, chairperson of the Transportation Committee, said, "For the Han River bus to establish itself as a stable transportation option for Seoul, it must have a solid public transit function that residents can conveniently use in their daily lives."
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