Seoul launches Hangang Bus commuter river ferry service in 2025

In autumn 2025, the Seoul Metropolitan Government began regular operation of the Hangang Bus, a commuter and sightseeing ferry service on the Han River, the waterway running through the middle of the South Korean capital.

The service connected several riverside piers, including Jamsil and Ttukseom on the eastern side of the city, with stops further west such as Yeouido, the financial and political district. City officials presented it as a new form of public transport that could ease pressure on roads and subway lines while making better use of the river.

The launch followed years of planning and a delay originally attributed to safety checks. It mattered because it was meant to turn the Han River from a mainly recreational space into part of the daily transport network, and it brought more attention to the facilities around the piers, such as paths, cycling links and visitor services.