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First new Han River ferries gear up for duty in Seoul — in pictures

Published: 27 Feb. 2025, 17:41 Updated: 28 Feb. 2025, 04:18

Hangang Bus 101, one of two public ferries purpose-built to carry people along the Han River, sails past Yeouido, western Seoul, on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Two new public passenger ferries that are due to start trial operations next month arrived in Seoul on Thursday.

Hangang Bus 101 and Hangang Bus 102 departed on Monday from Sacheon, South Gyeongsang, and docked on the banks of the Han River in Seoul on Thursday morning after sailing up the Yellow Sea.

They are the first two of 12 boats that the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to operate as part of its regular ferry service on the river.

Weighing in at 150 tons, each of the ferries is capable of carrying up to 194 passengers and five crewmembers.

The ferry route includes stops at seven piers: Magok, Mangwon and Yeouido in western Seoul; Jamwon and Oksu in central Seoul; and Ttukseom and Jamsil in eastern Seoul.

Construction of the pier at Oksu is expected to end in mid-March, while the other six have already been completed.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government also plans to increase the number of public bicycle or Ttareungi parking stands at the piers to increase their accessibility.

The two boats that arrived in Seoul on Thursday will undergo test operations in early March, according to city officials. The ferries are expected to fully up and running by June.

The fare for a single trip on the ferry has been set at a flat rate of 3,000 won ($2.1), approximately 1,600 won higher than the cost of a standard trip on the subway. The city government plans to allow passengers to pay their ferry fare using Climate Cards or T-money transportation cards.

A total of 68 sailings are initially scheduled between Magok and Jamsil on weekdays, with trips separated by 15-minute intervals during rush hours. However, only 48 sailings are scheduled daily for weekends and public holidays to account for lower commuter demand.

City officials said the frequency of sailings could increase as more boats enter service and if the ferries prove popular enough.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government initiated the public ferry project last year, arguing that a mode of transport that utilizes the capital’s main waterway could relieve avoid traffic congestion and overcrowding in buses and the subway.

The project was delayed last August due to safety concerns, which led the city government to undertake additional quality assurance tests before proceeding.

Hangang Bus 102, one of two ferry boats purpose-built to transport people along the Han River, sails past Yeouido, western Seoul, on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Hangang Bus 102, one of two ferry boats purpose-built to transport people along the Han River, sails eastward on the Han River in Seoul on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Hangang Bus 101, one of two ferry boats purpose-built to transport people along the Han River, approaches the Seogang Bridge near Yeouido, western Seoul, on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Hangang Bus 101, one of two ferry boats purpose-built to carry people along the Han River in Seoul, sails up the river on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Hangang Bus 101 and 102, two ferry boats purpose-built to transport people along the Han River in Seoul, sail up the river on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

The newly completed interior of one of the two Hangang Bus ferries, which are intended to transport people along the Han River, is seen in this photo provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Feb. 27. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Hangang Bus 101, one of two ferry boats purpose-built to transport people along the Han River in Seoul, departs Sacheon, South Gyeongsang, on Feb. 24. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]

Hangang Bus 101, one of two ferry boats commissioned to transport people along the Han River in Seoul, approaches Yeouido, western Seoul, on Feb. 27. [NEWS1]

Hangang Bus 101 and 102, two ferry boats purpose-built to carry people along the Han River in Seoul, are docked at a pier in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Feb. 27. [SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT]