Hangang Bus Officially Launches... Oh Sehoon: "Unique 'Healing' Unlike Other Transportation"

Mayor Oh Rides Hangang Bus and Inspects Dock
Emphasizes Intangible Value Felt at the Bow and Stern
Challenges Remain: Service Suspensions in Severe Weather and Long Travel Times

The Hangang Bus officially begins operation on September 18. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon emphasized that the Hangang Bus offers a unique “healing” function that sets it apart from other modes of transportation, after personally experiencing the service.

On the morning of the 18th at 11 a.m., Mayor Oh inspected the Hangang Bus dock ahead of its first official run and boarded the bus himself. The Hangang Bus will operate between seven docks from Magok to Jamsil, and after the Chuseok holiday, an express service for commuters will be added.

Yonhap News Agency

While on board, Mayor Oh stated, “This means of transportation has a character that other modes do not possess. It provides healing and freedom, helping citizens recover from the stress and pressures of urban life.”

He also left open the possibility of adjusting the operation policy based on citizen feedback. Mayor Oh said, “There are concerns that it may be slower than expected, but everything depends on the evaluations and responses of Seoul citizens. If there is significant demand for a faster public transportation option, we will upgrade it accordingly. If there are requests to maintain its current focus as an affordable and comforting option, we will prepare to meet those expectations.”

The Hangang Bus is taking its first steps amid various controversies. Issues have included the selection of a shipbuilder, delays in the project schedule, and, after the vessel was unveiled, concerns about noise. There are also many challenges to address, such as responses to severe weather. The trial ride scheduled for the previous day’s launch event was canceled due to heavy rain. The Seoul Metropolitan Government explained, “Visibility was less than one kilometer, making operation difficult.” Additionally, service will be suspended whenever the discharge from the Paldang Dam exceeds 3,000 tons. This means operations could be halted for around 20 days per year.

The travel time also increased during trial operations. The regular route from Magok to Jamsil takes 2 hours and 7 minutes, while the express route takes 1 hour and 22 minutes. This is about an hour longer than the subway, leading to criticism that it is difficult to serve as a practical means of public transportation. An official from the city government explained, “Since the trial runs began in February, we found that the depth of the Han River is lower than the sea, which limits speed. Considering various safety factors, we set the travel time at 127 minutes.”