SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - Seoul's water ferry service along the Han River has carried more than 600,000 passengers in about a year after its launch last fall, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Thursday.
According to the city government, the cumulative number of passengers stood at 603,293 as of early this week, with the service set to mark its first anniversary this Friday after beginning operations on Sept. 18 last year.
The milestone comes after a rocky start, with technical glitches and safety concerns causing several service disruptions and temporary halts during the first few months before full-route service resumed in March this year.
Most passengers were satisfied with the service. In a survey of about 3,500 riders conducted in June and July, 97.3 percent said they were happy with the service. Some 93.2 percent of them said they would ride it again, while 95.4 percent said they would definitely recommend the service to others.
The service has also had an impact on nearby businesses and passenger traffic. According to the city government, average monthly passenger traffic around a pier in Yeouido increased by 20.9 percent in May compared with the same month before the service began. Card spending at restaurants in the area also rose 15.5 percent over the same period.
The city government also plans to promote tourism by linking the service with scenic waterfront areas along the river as part of its long-term strategy.
Meanwhile, a special event celebrating the service's first anniversary will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Yeouido on Friday.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the service could become more than just a means of transportation by connecting the Han River with nearby neighborhoods. "Over the next five to 10 years, we will continue to improve safety, add more piers and make the service more convenient so that Seoul residents can use it as part of their daily lives," Oh said.
AJP Takeaways
- Seoul's Han River water ferry service carried 603,293 passengers by mid-September 2026, reaching more than 600,000 riders approximately one year after launching on Sept. 18, 2025.
- Passenger satisfaction with the Han River water ferry service remains high: a Seoul Metropolitan Government survey of about 3,500 riders conducted in June and July 2026 found that 97.3 percent were satisfied, 93.2 percent said they would ride again, and 95.4% said they would recommend the service.
- The Han River water ferry service has coincided with increased activity around Yeouido: average monthly passenger traffic near a Yeouido pier rose 20.9 percent in May 2026 compared with May before the service launched, while restaurant card spending in the area increased 15.5 percent.
According to the city government, the cumulative number of passengers stood at 603,293 as of early this week, with the service set to mark its first anniversary this Friday after beginning operations on Sept. 18 last year.
The milestone comes after a rocky start, with technical glitches and safety concerns causing several service disruptions and temporary halts during the first few months before full-route service resumed in March this year.
Most passengers were satisfied with the service. In a survey of about 3,500 riders conducted in June and July, 97.3 percent said they were happy with the service. Some 93.2 percent of them said they would ride it again, while 95.4 percent said they would definitely recommend the service to others.
The service has also had an impact on nearby businesses and passenger traffic. According to the city government, average monthly passenger traffic around a pier in Yeouido increased by 20.9 percent in May compared with the same month before the service began. Card spending at restaurants in the area also rose 15.5 percent over the same period.
The city government also plans to promote tourism by linking the service with scenic waterfront areas along the river as part of its long-term strategy.
Meanwhile, a special event celebrating the service's first anniversary will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in Yeouido on Friday.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said the service could become more than just a means of transportation by connecting the Han River with nearby neighborhoods. "Over the next five to 10 years, we will continue to improve safety, add more piers and make the service more convenient so that Seoul residents can use it as part of their daily lives," Oh said.
AJP Takeaways
- Seoul's Han River water ferry service carried 603,293 passengers by mid-September 2026, reaching more than 600,000 riders approximately one year after launching on Sept. 18, 2025.
- Passenger satisfaction with the Han River water ferry service remains high: a Seoul Metropolitan Government survey of about 3,500 riders conducted in June and July 2026 found that 97.3 percent were satisfied, 93.2 percent said they would ride again, and 95.4% said they would recommend the service.
- The Han River water ferry service has coincided with increased activity around Yeouido: average monthly passenger traffic near a Yeouido pier rose 20.9 percent in May 2026 compared with May before the service launched, while restaurant card spending in the area increased 15.5 percent.
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