As the spring season gets underway, more people are using the Hangang Bus. With foreign tourists flocking to Seoul for BTS's comeback concert and more residents enjoying the Hangang Bus, some say it is establishing itself as an "everyday mode of transportation."
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 26th, the number of Hangang Bus passengers totaled 10,018 over the three days from the 20th to the 22nd. This is the first time that the number of Hangang Bus users has exceeded 10,000 over the three days from Friday to Sunday.
On the 13th to 15th, passengers totaled 9,370. Compared with the same days of the first week of March, when 6,305 passengers were recorded, the figure rose by more than 50%.
On a monthly basis, the number of users is also on the rise. From the 1st through the 25th of this month, 47,872 people boarded the Hangang Bus. That is higher than the previous monthly record of 42,952 (Nov. 2025).
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as of 2024, the average number of people staying around the Han River per hour is about 200,000 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Annual visitors topped 100 million for the first time last year.
In particular, as the Han River has established itself as a must-visit attraction for foreign tourists, they are expected to become potential customers for the Hangang Bus. In addition, there is a view that the Hangang Bus will be the best place to enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom around the Han River in spring.
Operating hours are also settling into a set schedule. In particular, an express route for the Hangang Bus will be introduced starting in April. Observers say that if more Hangang Buses operate only on specific sections, they will also absorb commuting demand.
Allegations of special favors surrounding the Hangang Bus have also been resolved through an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection. The Democratic Party of Korea raised suspicions that a particular company may have been given special favors during the shipbuilding contract process, but the Board of Audit and Inspection concluded that it was "hard to see as a special favor."
Regarding this, Seoul Metropolitan Government Spokesperson Lee Min-kyung said, "The Hangang Bus is Korea's first waterborne public transit and a transportation innovation that will provide a new mobility experience for residents and tourists, and it is a key project to enhance Seoul's appeal and competitiveness by elevating the waterfront value of the Han River," adding, "We will push ahead unwaveringly with projects to enhance Seoul's appeal and competitiveness."