Seoul's commuter ferries mark one year, 600,000 passengers

Seoul’s Hangang Bus commuter ferries have carried more than 600,000 passengers in one year, with city officials saying the service is proving its value as public transit. Ridership accelerated after full-route operations resumed on March 1, and passenger satisfaction remained high this summer. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the city plans to expand terminals, cut wait times and build a riverfront economic belt.

The Hangang Bus launched on Sept. 18, 2025, and passed 600,000 cumulative passengers one year later, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government data released Thursday.

Since full-route operations resumed on March 1, nearly 500,000 riders have used the ferries.

On-time performance reached 99.3 percent in July, up from 97.7 percent in March.

A summer survey of more than 3,500 passengers found that 97.3 percent were satisfied overall and 93.2 percent said they would ride again.

Nearby restaurant sales around the Yeouido terminal rose 15.5 percent year-on-year in May, while local foot traffic increased nearly 21 percent.

Published Sep 17, 2026 2:28 pm KST

The Hangang Bus / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

When the Hangang Bus launched last September, skeptics questioned whether a fleet of ferries could transform into a legitimate leg of public transit in a city already serviced by one of the world's most extensive subway networks.

One year in, municipal officials say the bold experiment is proving its worth on the water.

More than 600,000 passengers have boarded the Hangang Bus since its inaugural voyage on Sept. 18, 2025, according to data released Thursday by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The service hit its stride this spring following an initial period of operational tweaks and safety overhauls. Since full-route operations resumed on March 1, nearly 500,000 riders have used the ferries. Passenger numbers peaked in August, when over 89,000 people opted for a riverfront commute over packed train cars and congested highway bridges.

Crucially for a commuter network, reliability has stabilized. On-time performance reached 99.3 percent in July, up from 97.7 percent in March, as vessel crews and terminal staff gained operational experience along the urban waterway, according to the city government.

In a survey of more than 3,500 passengers conducted this summer, 97.3 percent expressed overall satisfaction with the service, while 93.2 percent said they plan to ride again.

It has also provided an economic boost to surrounding neighborhoods. Nearby restaurant sales around the major Yeouido terminal rose 15.5 percent year-on-year in May, while local foot traffic surged nearly 21 percent.

Early technical glitches forced temporary passenger-free trial runs shortly after launch, and a grounding incident near the Jamsil terminal last November prompted city officials to overhaul navigation safety protocols. Working alongside local police and fire departments, transit authorities implemented rigorous emergency drills and inspected pier infrastructure before relaunching the complete route earlier this year.

City officials now view the ferries as more than a novel attraction for tourists. Speaking at the 2026 Hangang Bus Future Vision Forum at Seoul City Hall on Thursday, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon outlined a long-term strategy to integrate the water system into daily routines, drawing inspiration from municipal ferry networks in New York and London.

"The Hangang Bus is a multifunctional platform that connects key hubs across Seoul while creating new urban periences," Oh said. "Over the next decade, we will focus on reducing wait times, expanding terminal locations and building a riverfront economic belt that serves the daily needs of our citizens."

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

首尔汉江巴士通勤渡轮一年内运送乘客超过60万人次，市政府官员表示，这项服务正在证明其作为公共交通的价值。自3月1日全面恢复运营以来，客流量迅速增长，乘客满意度在今年夏季也保持高位。首尔市长吴世勋表示，市政府计划扩建码头、缩短候船时间并打造滨江经济带。

根据首尔市政府周四公布的数据，汉江巴士于2025年9月18日开通运营，一年后累计乘客人数突破60万人次。

自 3 月 1 日全面恢复运营以来，已有近 50 万名乘客乘坐了渡轮。

7 月份准点率达到 99.3%，高于 3 月份的 97.7%。

夏季对 3500 多名乘客进行的调查发现，97.3% 的乘客总体上感到满意，93.2% 的乘客表示他们会再次乘坐。

汝矣岛码头附近餐厅的销售额在 5 月份同比增长 15.5%，而当地人流量增长了近 21%。

发布于2026年9月17日下午2:28（韩国标准时间）

汉江巴士 / 图片由首尔市政府提供

去年九月汉江巴士开通时，怀疑论者质疑，在一个已经拥有世界上最广泛的地铁网络之一的城市里，一支渡轮船队能否转型成为合法的公共交通系统。

一年过去了，市政官员表示，这项大胆的实验正在水上证明其价值。

根据首尔市政府周四公布的数据，自2025年9月18日首航以来，已有超过60万名乘客乘坐了汉江巴士。

今年春季，经过初期运营调整和安全整改后，该服务步入正轨。自3月1日全面恢复运营以来，已有近50万乘客乘坐过渡轮。客流量在8月份达到高峰，超过8.9万人选择乘坐渡轮，而不是挤在拥挤的火车车厢和拥堵的公路桥梁上。

对于通勤网络而言，至关重要的是可靠性已趋于稳定。据市政府称，7月份准点率达到99.3%，高于3月份的97.7%，这得益于船员和码头工作人员在城市水道上积累了丰富的运营经验。

今年夏天进行的一项针对 3500 多名乘客的调查显示，97.3% 的受访者对服务表示总体满意，93.2% 的受访者表示计划再次乘坐。

这也带动了周边地区的经济发展。5月份，汝矣岛主要客运站附近餐厅的销售额同比增长15.5%，而当地人流量也激增了近21%。

早期的技术故障迫使该线路在开通后不久便进行了临时的无乘客试运行。去年11月，蚕室码头附近发生的一起搁浅事故促使市政府官员全面修订了航行安全规程。在今年年初重新开通全线线路之前，交通部门与当地警方和消防部门密切合作，实施了严格的应急演练并对码头基础设施进行了全面检查。

如今，首尔市政府官员已将渡轮视为一项重要的交通工具，而不仅仅是吸引游客的新奇景点。周四，首尔市长吴世勋在首尔市政厅举行的“2026年汉江巴士未来愿景论坛”上发表讲话，概述了一项将水路系统融入日常生活的长期战略，该战略借鉴了纽约和伦敦的市政渡轮网络。

“汉江巴士是一个多功能平台，它连接首尔各主要枢纽，同时创造全新的城市体验，”吴先生说。“未来十年，我们将致力于缩短候车时间、拓展站点数量，并打造一条满足市民日常需求的滨江经济带。”

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。