Seoul’s Hangang Bus night service now runs later in the evening, making it possible to use the Han River ferry after sunset instead of treating it only as a daytime ride. From August 15, 2026, Seoul added extra evening departures between Jamsil, Yeouido and Magok.
The detail that matters most is that there is no single universal “last Hangang Bus.” Departure times depend on your pier and direction, and the service is divided into eastern and western sections around Yeouido. If you are planning a night ride, check your exact departure rather than simply arriving before 9 PM.
For short-term visitors who already use T-money for Seoul transportation, using the same card is usually the most straightforward payment option. The adult fare is KRW 3,000, cash is not accepted, and Seoul provides real-time arrival and remaining-seat information through Naver Map and KakaoMap.
What Changed With Hangang Bus Night Service in August 2026?
Seoul Metropolitan Government expanded the evening timetable from August 15, 2026. The city added two later departures on the Jamsil-to-Yeouido section and two corresponding services from Yeouido toward Magok.
| Night Route | Added Departure Times | What Travelers Should Know |
|---|---|---|
| Jamsil → Yeouido | 6:50 PM, 7:20 PM | Useful for traveling west from the Jamsil side during sunset and early evening. |
| Yeouido → Magok | 8:25 PM, 8:55 PM | Later westbound service continues toward Mangwon and Magok. |
These four times are the newly added evening departures, not the last departure from every pier. The actual last usable boat depends on your pier and direction.
The current timetable covers service from about 11:00 AM to a final arrival as late as 9:39 PM. Service is built around approximately hourly intervals, but additional afternoon and evening departures create shorter gaps at some times.
Before leaving for a pier, check the official Seoul nighttime-service timetable. A late departure in one direction does not mean a boat leaves every pier at the same time.
How the Hangang Bus Routes Work
The easiest way to understand the current network is to think of Yeouido as the main transfer point.
The western section connects Magok, Mangwon and Yeouido. The eastern section connects Yeouido with Apgujeong or Oksu, Seoul Forest, Ttukseom and Jamsil.
Oksu and Apgujeong are served on alternating trips rather than every ferry stopping at both. Check the specific timetable when either of those piers is your destination.
Traveling between the eastern and western sections requires a transfer at Yeouido under the current route structure. Seoul states that an additional transfer fare is not charged when transferring between the two Hangang Bus sections at Yeouido.
Seoul Forest Is a Temporary 2026 Stop
Seoul Forest Pier is operating from June 8 through October 30, 2026 as a temporary stop. During this period, the eastern route connects Jamsil, Ttukseom, Seoul Forest, Oksu or Apgujeong, and Yeouido.
If you are visiting after October 30, do not assume the Seoul Forest stop will still be available. Check the current timetable before building a route around it. Seoul’s Seoul Forest Pier announcement explains the temporary operation period and alternating Oksu and Apgujeong stops.
How to Ride the Hangang Bus as a Tourist
You do not need a separate sightseeing-cruise reservation system just to take a normal Hangang Bus ride. Seoul’s current instructions use an on-site queue and boarding process at the pier.
- Go to the correct Hangang Bus pier. Confirm both the pier and direction before joining the queue.
- Take a queue ticket. Follow the instructions shown at the pier.
- Check your boarding status. Confirm whether you are shown as standby or confirmed.
- Wait in the designated boarding area.
- Board when instructed by staff.
- Complete the boarding report form. Follow the instructions provided at the pier.
Because seat availability can matter, arriving exactly at departure time is not a good plan for an evening ride you particularly want to catch. Seoul lists real-time arrival information and remaining seats in Naver Map and KakaoMap.
If you have not used Korean map apps before, the KoreaEasyTrip guide to Naver Map vs KakaoMap for Korea travel explains which app is easier to start with and how to check local transportation routes.
Hangang Bus Fares and Payment in 2026
Current single-ride fares are:
- Adult: KRW 3,000
- Youth ages 13–18: KRW 1,800
- Children ages 6–12: KRW 1,100
Seoul states that cash is not accepted. T-money and K-Pass can be used for eligible public-transport transfers, and specific Climate Card products also cover the Hangang Bus.
For a short-term visitor who already uses T-money on Seoul public transportation, keeping the same card ready is a practical option. The KoreaEasyTrip guide to using a T-money card in Seoul covers purchase, reloads and transfer basics.
Do Not Assume a Tourist Climate Card Includes Hangang Bus
This is an important 2026 distinction. Seoul’s 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 7-day Climate Card short-term passes do not include Hangang Bus.
Separate 30-day Climate Card options that include Hangang Bus are available under the current prepaid system. However, Seoul states that the 30-day prepaid Climate Card can only be recharged through August 31, 2026, with the new Climate Pass scheduled to launch on September 1.
A traveler using a short-term tourist Climate Card should therefore not assume that the Hangang Bus fare is already covered. Current pass types and inclusions are listed on the official Seoul Climate Card page.
Do Not Rely on Old Free Shuttle Bus Information
Older Hangang Bus guides may tell you to use a free shuttle between nearby subway stations and the Magok, Apgujeong or Jamsil piers. That information is now outdated.
Seoul states that the free shuttle service for those piers was discontinued on August 10, 2026. This is especially important at night, when arriving at the wrong place can mean missing a relatively infrequent ferry.
Check your complete route to the pier in a map app before leaving the subway. Do not plan the final connection around an old shuttle-bus timetable.
How Late Does the Hangang Bus Actually Run?
The current official timetable lists an overall operating window beginning at approximately 11:00 AM and extending to a final arrival as late as 9:39 PM. That 9:39 PM time is a final arrival in the current timetable, not a promise that you can walk up to any pier shortly before 9:39 PM and board.
For the expanded night service, the easiest times to remember are the added 6:50 PM and 7:20 PM departures from Jamsil toward Yeouido, followed by the 8:25 PM and 8:55 PM departures from Yeouido toward Magok.
If you are traveling in the opposite direction, boarding at an intermediate pier, or trying to stop at Apgujeong or Oksu, check the complete schedule for that day.
Three Checks to Make Before an Evening Ride
- Check the exact pier and direction. Yeouido divides the eastern and western route sections, and Oksu and Apgujeong alternate on the eastern side.
- Check live information. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap for arrival and remaining-seat information before making a special trip to the river.
- Check your payment method. Bring a supported transportation card and do not assume cash or a short-term tourist Climate Card will cover the ride.
Hangang Bus works differently from a sightseeing cruise with one fixed evening departure. It is public water transportation with multiple piers, route directions and transfer rules, so checking the exact route matters more than looking for one general “last boat” time.
Is the Night Hangang Bus Worth Using for Sightseeing?
It can make sense when the route itself fits your evening plans. Seoul expanded the timetable specifically to make evening travel and nighttime views along the Han River easier to enjoy.
But choose it for the combination of transportation and river views rather than assuming it is the fastest way between two attractions. A longer journey can take considerably more time than the subway, and traveling between the eastern and western sections may require changing at Yeouido.
If your priority is simply getting back to your hotel quickly, compare the subway route before boarding. If you have time and the pier locations fit your itinerary, the evening Hangang Bus offers a different way to travel through Seoul without using a sightseeing-cruise ticket.
The practical rule for 2026 is simple: check the exact night departure, confirm which side of Yeouido you need, and have a supported transportation card ready. With those three details settled, using the Hangang Bus is much less confusing.
Information checked on August 17, 2026. Hangang Bus timetables, pier operations and transportation payment rules can change, so check Seoul Metropolitan Government before traveling.