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Hangang Bus ridership exceeds 70,000 for first time in April

Published: 29 Apr. 2026, 16:22 Updated: 29 Apr. 2026, 19:18

A Hangang Bus ferry heads toward Yeouido Pier, Yeongdeungpo District in western Seoul on Sept. 21, 2025. [YONHAP]

Monthly Hangang Bus riders surpassed 70,000 for the first time in April, the highest for Seoul's riverside taxi service.

"A total of 70,552 passengers used the Hangang Bus ferry from April 1 to Monday," said a Seoul Metropolitan Government official on Wednesday.

Last weekend’s ridership rose 15.2 percent to 10,247 passengers, up from 8,897 recorded during the first weekend of April. Daily ridership also reached an all-time high on Sunday, when 5,212 people boarded the service.

With one day left in the month, total monthly ridership is expected to exceed 75,000. The projected figure for April would mark an increase of around 12,500 compared to March, when 62,491 passengers used the service.

The city will offer a temporary pier near Seoul Forest starting May 20 to accommodate the Seoul International Garden Show set to begin on Friday.

A special nonstop route connecting Yeouido Pier in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, and the Seoul Forest pier will be introduced for the event. A pier previously reserved for official city vessels will also be opened to the public.

A Hangang Bus ferry is docked at the Magok Pier in Gangseo District, western Seoul, on Oct. 19, 2025. [NEWS1]

Plans are also underway to create a garden linking the Seoul Forest pier and Seoul Forest, offering visitors a space to relax. The city is also set to improve facilities such as a pedestrian bridge in Seongsu, Seongdong District, and renovate the pedestrian walkway.

Measures to increase revenue from facilities such as cafes, pubs and convenience stores are under review, along with plans to expand advertising and events as ridership grows.

“Hangang Bus ferries are setting new monthly ridership records and are establishing themselves as a water transport option that meets both daily commuting and tourism demand,” said Park Jin-young, the head of Future Hangang Project Headquarters. “A temporary pier will also be opened so visitors can travel to the Seoul International Garden Show by Hangang Bus ferry starting in May."

The ferry began sailing in September last year, but halted operation after 11 days due to technical malfunctions. The ferry then paused operations in November and reopened in March.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY MOON HEE-CHUL [[email protected]]