Seoul’s Han River Bus Ridership Tops 70,000 in April as Policy Debate Intensifies

Seoul’s experiment with water transit on the Han River is becoming a daily reality. With ridership surging, the Han River Bus topped 70,000 cumulative riders through April 27, undercutting calls to halt the service. [Photo: Seoul Metropolitan Government]

The Han River Bus has been drawing heavy crowds as the spring outing season gets underway.
Data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday showed April ridership reached 70,552 from April 1-27, a monthly record. The city projected the total would exceed 75,000 by the end of the month.

Weekend traffic also rose. Riders totaled 10,247 over the final weekend of April (April 25-26), up 15.2% from the first weekend (April 4-5).

The city said the increase is not only seasonal. To coincide with the International Garden Expo opening May 1, Seoul plans to open a temporary dock at Seoul Forest and add a direct Yeouido-to-Seoul Forest route. A pier previously used only by official vessels will be opened to the public, in a bid to capture more destination-based trips as well as leisure demand.

The ridership surge has sharpened a policy dispute. Democratic Party Seoul mayoral candidate Jung Won-oh has voiced skepticism about the Han River Bus, saying that if elected he would consider halting operations or, at minimum, scaling it back and shifting it to a tourism-focused service. His comments have effectively questioned profitability and efficiency.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon, by contrast, has promoted the Han River Bus as a platform aimed at both everyday transportation and tourism. Ridership rose to 62,491 in March and has already surpassed 70,000 in April. Cumulative ridership has topped 230,000, the city said.

Seoul is also reviewing ways to improve revenue beyond fares, including expanding dockside facilities such as cafes, chicken pubs and convenience stores, along with more advertising and events. The city has described the approach as a platform-style transit model intended to attract private demand and reduce the fiscal burden.

Park Jin-young, head of the city’s Future Han River Headquarters, said the Han River Bus “is settling in as a water transit option that meets both everyday transportation and tourism demand” after posting its highest monthly ridership. He added that the city will open a temporary dock so residents can reach the International Garden Expo at Seoul Forest by Han River Bus starting in May.

* This article has been translated by AI.

Kim Doo Il