28 Regulation Violations Found for Hangang Bus... Government Requests Enhanced Safety Management

Including Insufficient Maintenance, Total Issues Reach 120
Inadequate Communication System Between District Offices and Operator
Three Piers Face High Risk of Riverbed Depth Changes
Jamsil Incident Involved Grounding of Hangang Bus

The results of a joint government-private sector inspection revealed that there were as many as 28 violations of laws and manuals by Hangang Bus. When including additional issues such as insufficient maintenance, the total number of identified problems reached 120.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on December 11 the findings of a joint public-private inspection conducted from November 21 to 26, aimed at preventing frequent breakdowns and safety incidents that have occurred during Hangang Bus operations this year.

Yonhap News Agency

Previously, on November 16, an incident occurred near Jamsil Pier where a Hangang Bus became stranded on the riverbed, leading to the rescue of over 80 passengers. Following this, concerns about the safety of Hangang Bus operations emerged, prompting the government to launch an investigation. The recent inspection involved the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the National Police Agency, the National Fire Agency, the Korea Coast Guard, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Korea Infrastructure Safety and Technology Corporation, Incheon Port Authority, Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority, and private experts.

The inspection covered Hangang Bus routes, seven vessels, seven piers, and the emergency response system. The results identified 28 cases of regulation violations, 39 cases of insufficient maintenance, and 53 recommendations for improvement.

Among the major violations of laws and manuals, it was found that, in the area of emergency response, the communication system between the city’s local district offices and the Hangang Bus operator was inadequate and required improvement. In addition, some piers had not established safety management procedures for confined spaces, and industrial safety supervisors had not been appointed. At Apgujeong Pier, issues such as damaged electrical conduits, insulation damage to signal lines, and insufficient gas pipe sealing were detected.

The ‘installation and management standards for rest facilities’ stipulated in the Enforcement Decree of the Industrial Safety and Health Act were also violated. No rest facilities were provided for cleaning workers, who are in a vulnerable job category, and the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for cleaning chemicals were not posted.

‘Insufficient maintenance’ refers to issues that are not regulation violations but could affect operational safety, with a total of 39 such cases identified. These included matters related to the recent grounding incident.

The Korea Maritime Transportation Safety Authority and private experts pointed out that Hangang Bus maintenance was lacking in response to changes in water depth. The Ministry of Climate and Environment noted that Jamsil, Oksu, and Apgujeong piers are located in areas where the riverbed is likely to change due to sediment accumulation, based on the topography of the Han River. It was recommended that maintenance plans be established for the riverbed at these piers.

Additionally, the inspection found that management of facilities and equipment was insufficient, including issues such as defective navigational aids, explosion-proof lights, and fire detectors on vessels.

There were also ‘recommendations for improvement’ that, while not regulation violations, were suggested to enhance safety. The Korea Coast Guard noted that Hangang Bus routes vary by vessel and that there is a risk of collision between Hangang Buses and leisure activity participants when passing between bridge piers. As a result, it was suggested to provide standardized route operation training for Hangang Bus operators and to consider designating restricted zones for water leisure activities near bridge piers.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety plans to notify the Seoul Metropolitan Government of the inspection results and instruct immediate correction of deficiencies. The ministry will also continue to consult with the city, requesting the establishment of enhanced safety management measures.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.