SEOUL — The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a full, month-long suspension of passenger services for the newly launched Hangang Bus (Han River Bus) starting tomorrow, September 29. The decision follows a series of repeated mechanical and system failures just ten days after the water bus service officially began operations on September 18.
The city will shift the river buses to a period of no-passenger trial operations to stabilize the system and address the persistent technical issues that have plagued its initial run.
A Series of Disruptions
Since its launch, the highly anticipated Hangang Bus—touted as South Korea's first waterborne public transit system—has suffered multiple operational setbacks. These issues include:
Rudder Malfunctions: A vessel bound for Jamsil from Magok on September 26 had to turn back shortly after departure due to a rudder fault.
Electrical System Issues: Earlier, on September 22, two separate vessels experienced electrical glitches that forced them to halt operations mid-route.
Weather-Related Closures: The service also faced suspension due to a sharp increase in water discharge from the Paldang Dam following heavy rainfall, an issue that citizens have criticized as making the service unreliable as a public transport option.
The repeated breakdowns—which included minor system defects in the steering and electrical systems—have raised significant safety concerns among the public and prompted a forceful response from the city.
Optimizing Performance and Safety
The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that while the recent issues were minor technical errors typical of an optimization stage, the paramount concern is passenger safety.
"To ensure safe and stable operations with passenger safety as the top priority in the long term, we have decided to conduct an extended trial operation," the city government explained in a statement.
Over the next month, the municipality will collaborate with the manufacturer to:
Optimize Integrated Performance: Fine-tune the hull, rudder, and integrated electrical and mechanical systems.
Enhance Stability: Conduct continuous trial runs under real-world conditions to preemptively eliminate the possibility of problem recurrence.
Refine Contingency Plans: Improve response strategies for various emergency scenarios, including adverse weather.
Park Jin-young, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Future Hangang Headquarters, expressed regret over the situation: "This is an unavoidable measure to operate the Hangang Bus—which approximately 25,000 citizens have already boarded—in a safer and more comfortable manner going forward. We apologize for the inconvenience to the citizens."
Full Refunds Issued
In response to the suspension, the city confirmed that all citizens who purchased the Hangang Bus monthly pass—which included an additional 5,000 KRW surcharge to the standard climate card—will receive a full refund for the added cost. Details regarding the refund process will be individually communicated through the T-money website, mobile app, and text messages.
The city aims to resume passenger service by the end of October, once the systematic issues have been thoroughly resolved and operational stability is guaranteed.
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