I took a cruise on the Han River and saw Seoul from another angle.

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I took a cruise on the Han River and saw Seoul from another angle.

Published: 12 Mar. 2026, 07:00

CHO JUNG-WOO
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Seoul Cruise vessels dock at the terminal in Yeouido, western Seoul, in a photo provided by the company. [SEOUL CRUISE]

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Rocking gently on a sightseeing boat in the middle of the Han River on a breezy spring afternoon, I sip a cup of hot chamomile tea and watch the skyline of western Seoul glide past.

I have traveled the river many times before, but this time I boarded a cruise to take in the capital’s most signature waterway at a slower pace.

From the launch of the Hangang Bus to the opening of a new cruise terminal in Yeouido, western Seoul, the city has been experimenting with new ways for people to experience the Han in recent years.

Another effort is Seoul Cruise, one of two companies offering sightseeing boat rides along the river .

Officially launched in October last year from the terminal in Yeouido, the cruise travels along the Han River to the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, stopping at Ara Gimpo Passenger Terminal and on to Jeongseojin in Incheon — reconnecting the two waterways for the first time in about 11 years.

Getting on board

Booking the cruise is simple enough. The website offers several packages, from basic daytime sightseeing rides to evening excursions featuring fireworks.

With a modest budget, I opted for the most straightforward option: the “Hi! Seoul Cruise,” a daytime package that costs 25,000 won ($19) for adults. The hour-long route runs between Yeouido and the area near Seongsan Bridge.

Other packages cater to those looking for a more elaborate experience. Night cruises include live music performances and dinner buffet options, with prices reaching 119,000 won for adults for the dinner cruise package, which includes drinks such as beer and wine.

A couple feeds seagulls aboard the Seoul Cruise on March 7. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

Cruises depart not only from Yeouido but also from the Ara Gimpo Passenger Terminal along the Gyeongin Ara Waterway.

For the package I selected, there were several departure options. The cruise runs at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, as well as on weekends.

I initially chose Wednesday, hoping for clear skies for my first ride along the river. But my first attempt at boarding did not go as planned.

The day before my scheduled ride, the cruise company called to say the trip would be canceled. Only three passengers had booked that departure, the staff member explained, and at least 10 were needed for the cruise to operate.

I rescheduled for a Saturday afternoon slot instead, when more passengers were likely. This time, a KakaoTalk message arrived two days before the ride, confirming the trip and reminding passengers to arrive 10 minutes early with identification.

Passengers watch a live performance aboard the Seoul Cruise on March 7. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

How to get to the terminal

The terminal, about a five-minute walk from Exit 2 of Yeouinaru Station, was large and new. As I walked in, I found a ticket counter and a small waiting lounge just before the boarding area. Passengers were asked to fill out a short boarding form available in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese.

Soon after, I stepped aboard.

The ship was larger than I expected. Inside was a spacious hall lined with tables and chairs, a small stage and even an elevator connecting the decks, features that made the vessel feel more like a floating event venue than a sightseeing boat.

The company operates two vessels, Cruise No. 1 and Cruise No. 2. I boarded Cruise No. 2, a three-story, 668-ton ship with a capacity of 400 passengers. Its larger counterpart, Cruise No. 1, spans four stories and weighs 999 tons, which can hold about 800 passengers.

Upstairs, the second floor included a lounge with wide windows facing the river and a small snack counter selling drinks and desserts.

About 20 passengers boarded that afternoon, mostly Korean families and couples, along with one foreign family. With only a few passengers on board, the spacious vessel felt relaxed and unhurried.

At 4:02 p.m., the cruise slowly pulled away from the dock.

On the river

Soon after departure, I climbed to the top deck.

The open space was surprisingly large, wide enough that, for a moment, it felt like a small playground floating on the river. The early spring wind was sharp, but the view made the cold easy to ignore.

A couple nearby pointed their cameras toward seagulls gliding above the boat. A father and his young son stretched their arms wide, reenacting a scene from the film "Titanic" (1997).

Not long after, someone began feeding the birds.

Seoul Cruise No. 1 sails along the Han River in a photo provided by the company. [SEOUL CRUISE]

A young couple opened a bag of shrimp crackers and tossed pieces into the air. Within seconds, a flock of seagulls gathered above, swooping down to catch the snacks mid-flight. The couple laughed nervously as the birds drew closer, apologizing to other passengers who hurried across the deck to avoid the flurry of wings.

I had seen seagulls along the Han before, but never this many and not this close.

As the boat drifted beneath the steel arches of Seogang Bridge, the skyline slowly slid by. The dome of the National Assembly grew smaller behind us.

After braving the wind for a while, I went downstairs to warm up with a cup of tea and a small financier pastry.

By the time I finished the snack, the boat had reached its turning point.

“That must be the bridge,” a woman said to her partner as the vessel began to turn.

Around the halfway point, music suddenly filled the cabin. Passengers drifted toward the other side of the deck, where the stage downstairs could be seen. A crew member stepped forward with a microphone and began to sing.

An event hall on the Seoul Cruise[CHO JUNG-WOO]

Her set included several songs, including “Part of Your World” (1989) from "The Little Mermaid" (1989). When she finished, someone in the crowd called out, “Encore!”

She laughed and continued, eventually closing with “Dream” (1991) by veteran Korean singer Cho Yong-pil.

She opened the song with the line, “I came here chasing dreams of a dazzling city. But the place was cold and rough.”

As the lyrics echoed through the lounge, the cruise drifted past the gleaming tower of the 63 Building in Yeouido outside the window.

Returning to shore

Exactly an hour after departure, the cruise returned to the terminal. A crew member announced over the loudspeaker that we had arrived back in Yeouido.

Han River boat services [YUN YOUNG]

Outside, people were strolling along the riverfront. Nearby, the pier for the Hangang Bus stood beside the cruise terminal — another of the city’s recent efforts to bring life back to the Han River.

Having also tried the Hangang Bus myself, the difference between the two felt clear. The Hangang Bus functions more like a leisurely commuter route, connecting points along the river for about 3,000 won per adult. The cruise, by contrast, is less about transportation and more about taking in the view.

For someone used to meeting friends at trendy restaurants and cafes around Seoul, the ride on the cruise offered a refreshing change of pace. The ship was new, the facilities were clean and the staff friendly.

At times, though, the experience felt a little unstructured. There was little explanation of where the boat was along the river or what landmarks were passing by.

“I think it would’ve been nice if there was some kind of explanation during the trip,” said a 23-year-old university student who was also riding the cruise for the first time.

The landscape of Yeouido, western Seoul, seen from the Seoul Cruise on March 7. [CHO JUNG-WOO]

I agreed. For visitors unfamiliar with the city, even a short narration could turn the passing scenery into a richer story about Seoul.

Still, the hour on the river offered something simple and surprisingly rare in the capital: a moment to slow down and see the city from a different angle.

Next time, I thought, I might return with my parents, perhaps for one of the evening cruises with fireworks, and see the river again, this time after dark.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]