On the morning of September 29, during a briefing on housing supply policy, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-Hoon suddenly shifted topics. He cut in to say he himself should explain the suspension of the “Han River Bus,” even though Jinyoung Park, head of Seoul’s Future Han River Division, had already given an official statement. It felt less like clarification and more like the mayor wanting the last word.
Citing “Expert Advice” for the Suspension
Oh stated that halting the Han River Bus service was based on the “expert opinions” of captains and engineers.
The decision followed a rocky debut:
The service launched on September 18.
Within just four days, the first accidents and malfunctions began.
By the tenth day, the bus had already suffered four separate mechanical and electrical failures, shaking public confidence.
With Chuseok approaching—a key holiday season for ridership—the city abruptly announced the suspension. The unspoken worry seemed clear: operating during the holidays risked a high-profile disaster, especially if foreign tourists had been injured. Politically, such a scenario could have haunted the mayor far beyond the holidays.
A “Sorry-Not-Sorry” Response
Instead of a heartfelt apology, Oh framed his remarks around regret that “families during the holiday can’t enjoy the service.” His stiff demeanor and lack of visible remorse struck many as tone-deaf. Citizens, frustrated by repeated malfunctions and safety concerns, felt further provoked by what came across as an empty statement rather than accountability.
Kicking the Can Down the Road
Oh insisted he wasn’t dodging responsibility, claiming the city was taking “safety-first” action. Seoul announced the Han River Bus would undergo a month of no-passenger test runs to stabilize the system.
“Captains and technical staff requested about a month for adjustments and upgrades,” Oh explained. “This is not about a short pilot project, but about ensuring long-term safe operations. After thorough checks, we’ll resume service so citizens can ride with confidence.”
Yet even that timeline was vague—“a month” didn’t mean exactly 30 days. The city only promised to announce test results and future plans later. Even if service resumes in November, it’s unclear how many people will willingly board in the freezing Han River winds.
Passing the Buck
Future Han River Division head Park Jinyoung downplayed criticism that the official launch had been rushed.
“We had six months of testing before official operations, so we don’t view it as hasty,” he said. “But unforeseen issues arose. We’ll stress-test thoroughly over the next month to prevent small glitches that could ruin trust.”
He also emphasized that repair costs would fall under the shipbuilder’s warranty, implying the contractor bore responsibility—not city hall. The problem? The vessel was built by a company with no prior shipbuilding experience, raising further public outcry over mismanagement and wasted taxpayer funds.
Final Thoughts
The Han River Bus fiasco isn’t just about mechanical breakdowns. It’s about poor planning, lack of accountability, and leaders appearing more concerned with optics than public safety. Instead of a mayor owning up to mistakes, citizens saw a politician distancing himself from blame while projecting an air of detachment.
Whether the service will ever win back trust remains to be seen—but for now, Seoulites are left wondering: who will truly take responsibility for this costly misstep?
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