In 2026, 'Seoul Port' to be Established in Yeouido, Seoul... Aiming to Become a Northeast Asia Tourism Hub

Leading Marine Tourism by Developing the Han River Waterway as a Tourist Resource... 'Seohae Baetgil Toward the World' Project in Full Swing
Han River to Gyeongin Ara Waterway Cruise Ship to Operate Trial Runs This Year, Regular Service from Next Year... Yeouido Pier Expansion

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As early as 2026, large cruise passengers docking at Incheon Port will be able to take a sightseeing cruise on the Han River, disembark at Yeouido to tour Seoul, or board a cruise at Yeouido to travel abroad via the West Sea Waterway.

On the 15th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will officially launch the “West Sea Waterway to the World” project to utilize the Han River’s waterways as a tourism resource. The plan is to enhance the Han River’s function as a “waterway” and develop it into a new tourism resource leading Northeast Asian maritime tourism. It aims to offer a unique experience to visitors to Seoul and invigorate the Seoul economy by driving the era of 30 million overseas tourists.

The core of the “West Sea Waterway to the World” project is to establish “Seoul Port” by 2026 in Yeouido, designated as a local management trade port in 2010, to increase the utilization value of the West Sea Waterway connecting the Han River, the West Sea, and Northeast Asia. Accordingly, Seoul plans to implement the project in two major phases. In the first phase, from 2023, regular cruises will operate between the Han River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, and in the second phase, after establishing a basic plan and conducting feasibility studies, “Seoul Port” will be constructed.

Trial operation of Han River?Gyeongin Ara Waterway cruises followed by regular service from next year... Yeouido pier expansion

Seoul Port Concept Map (Draft)

The first step of the West Sea Waterway project, the cruise operation between the Han River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, will begin trial operations this year and move to regular service from 2023. Ahead of resuming the Han River?Gyeongin Ara Waterway route, which was suspended due to COVID-19, the city completed dredging in September this year to secure a water depth of 3.5 meters near the Han River lock area to allow 1,000-ton vessels to pass.

Next year, to accommodate 1,000-ton cruises approximately 66 meters in length at the Yeouido pier in line with the regular cruise service between the Han River and the Gyeongin Ara Waterway, the current 65-meter Yeouido pier will be expanded to 95 meters. Currently, cruises departing from the Gyeongin Ara Waterway cannot dock at Yeouido and must turn back.

In the second phase, an international passenger terminal, “Seoul Port,” will be established in Yeouido, the financial center of Seoul, where green spaces and Han River waterfront culture harmonize. The goal is to start operations by 2026. Once Seoul Port is established, it will initially serve domestic routes such as Yeosu and Jeju Island, and based on maritime tourism demand, it plans to introduce CIQ (Customs inspection, Immigration control, Quarantine) functions to expand its role as an international port connecting Northeast Asia, including China.

Additionally, by utilizing private capital, various functions beyond terminal operations will be introduced to enhance business viability and transform Seoul Port into a complex cultural tourism destination. International conference halls, floating hotels, and tourist attractions such as the Sunset Observatory will be developed in connection with the Yeouido International Financial District. Duty-free shops and bonded warehouses are also planned.

“Han River-customized vessel” standards established considering the unique characteristics of the Han River waterway

Han River Customized Ship (Draft)

Along with the construction of “Seoul Port,” Seoul will also determine the maximum specifications for “Han River-customized vessels” that meet the Han River’s water depth, bridge height, and pier spacing. The plan is to provide standards so that private sectors can build vessels capable of safely traveling directly between the Han River, the West Sea, and domestic and international tourist destinations such as Qingdao and Shanghai in China.

To enhance business viability, a water transportation system will be established to connect major tourist sites along the Han River from Seoul Port, enabling connections to key tourist destinations in Seoul. Tourism products such as sunset cruises will also be developed to allow large cruise passengers docking in Incheon to visit Seoul via the Han River.

The “West Sea Waterway to the World” project is a large-scale, long-term initiative that will proceed sequentially according to annual plans after establishing a basic plan in 2023. Yoon Jong-jang, head of the Han River Project Headquarters at Seoul City, said, “The ‘West Sea Waterway to the World’ project will become a new tourism resource driving ‘Seoul as a city of 30 million tourists.’ We expect it to provide a unique enjoyment to domestic and international tourists, including Seoul citizens, at a time when demand for new leisure activities is rapidly increasing after COVID-19.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.