Seoul’s Han River Bus Tops 70,000 Riders in April as Policy Debate Intensifies

The Han River bus has been drawing heavier crowds as the spring outing season gets underway.

Data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Tuesday showed April ridership totaled 70,552 from April 1-27, a monthly record. The city projected the figure will exceed 75,000 by the end of the month.
 
Weekend traffic also rose. Ridership over the final weekend of April (April 25-26) reached 10,247, up 15.2% from the first weekend (April 4-5).

Seoul said the increase is not only seasonal. In line with the International Garden Expo opening May 1, the city will open a temporary dock at Seoul Forest and add a direct Yeouido-to-Seoul Forest route. The plan is to open to the public a dock previously used only by official vessels and capture more destination-based trips, combining transportation and tourism.
 
The ridership surge has sharpened differences in how politicians assess the program. Jung Won-oh, the Democratic Party’s Seoul mayoral candidate, has taken a negative stance on the Han River bus, saying that if elected he would consider halting operations or, at minimum, scaling it back and shifting it to a tourism-focused service. His comments have raised questions about profitability and efficiency.
 
Mayor Oh Se-hoon, by contrast, has promoted the Han River bus as a platform aimed at both everyday commuting and tourism demand. After skepticism early on, ridership climbed from 62,491 in March to more than 70,000 in April, with cumulative riders surpassing 230,000, the city said.
 
Seoul is also reviewing ways to improve revenue beyond fares, including expanding dockside facilities such as cafes, a chicken pub and convenience stores, along with advertising and events. The city has described the approach as a platform-style transit model intended to attract private demand and reduce the fiscal burden.
 
Park Jin-young, head of Seoul’s Future Han River Headquarters, said the Han River bus “is setting a monthly ridership record and is taking root as a water transit option that meets both everyday transportation and tourism demand.” He added, “Starting in May, we will also open a temporary dock so residents can visit the International Garden Expo at Seoul Forest by taking the Han River bus, improving convenience for citizens.”