A new Hangang Bus ferry stop at Seoul Forest / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government
Hoping to capitalize on a massive surge in public interest, Seoul officials said Friday that the city's newly rebooted river ferry service will add a critical new stop at Seoul Forest to bring visitors to the international garden exhibition.
Starting Monday, June 8, the Hangang Bus will stop at the newly minted Seoul Forest pier 16 times a day through the end of October. The addition alters the eastern corridor of the municipal ferry network between Jamsil and Yeouido, creating a scenic transit alternative for an event that has quickly captured the capital’s attention.
The Seoul International Garden Show, which opened May 1 on a sprawling 710,000-square-meter site in eastern Seoul, has cemented its status as one of the city's most successful public initiatives. After drawing over 10 million visitors last year, this year’s iteration crossed the one-million-visitor threshold just six days after opening.
To maintain safety and efficiency during the route expansion, the city is restructuring the eastern line to alternate stops between the Oksu and Apgujeong piers. Under this alternating system, a ferry departing Jamsil at 11:00 a.m. will stop at Oksu, while the 12:00 p.m. departure will dock at Apgujeong instead. Municipal planners have also extended daily operations by one hour in the evening, pushing final arrivals on the eastern line to 9:28 p.m. and offering passengers a front-row seat to twilight on the river.
