Archive · 16 Nov 2025
South Korea PM Orders Safety Review After Seoul River Bus Incident
Imagine two accidents happened in South Korea.
In one, a boat on the river stopped because it was too shallow.
Luckily, everyone on the boat was safe and rescued.
The country's Prime Minister said it's important to make sure these river boats are safe, especially where they stop and travel.
The city said they will check everything to make it safer.
In another accident, a truck driver accidentally drove his truck into a busy market.
Two people sadly passed away, and many others were hurt.
The driver might have made a mistake with the pedals, and he has a health condition that affects his brain.
South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged safety reviews after a river bus incident.
82 passengers were safely rescued from a water bus that stopped in shallow waters on the Han River.
The Prime Minister is concerned about the safety of the water bus service and route planning.
A separate incident involved a truck crashing into a market, killing two and injuring 19.
Authorities are investigating the market crash, suspecting pedal misoperation by the driver, who has a brain condition.
- Who
- South Korea's Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Seoul city government, Interior Ministry, police, fire authorities, a truck driver in his 60s, market vendors and customers
- What
- A river bus stopped in shallow waters, leading to calls for safety reviews; a truck crashed into a market, causing fatalities and injuries.
- When
- The river bus incident occurred on Saturday; the market crash happened on Thursday.
- Where
- The river bus incident occurred on the Han River in southeastern Seoul; the market crash occurred at Jeil Market in Bucheon.
- Why
- The river bus stopped due to shallow waters; the market crash is suspected to be caused by the driver's misoperation of pedals, possibly related to a medical condition.
Criticism of Water Bus Safety
City Government Response
Safety Concerns
Criticism of Water Bus Safety
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok expressed grave concerns over the overall safety of the water bus service, questioning the city government's consideration of topographical circumstances in route and stop selection.
City Government Response
The Seoul city government apologized for causing inconvenience and vowed to conduct more thorough inspections, stating that all safety response measures were carried out normally.
Project Ownership
Criticism of Water Bus Safety
The water bus service is a key project launched by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
City Government Response
The service has faced criticism over its safety, mainly from the ruling bloc.
- River Bus Accident Date
- Saturday
- River Bus Passengers
- 82
- Market Crash Date
- Thursday
- Market Crash Location
- Jeil Market, Bucheon
- Market Crash Fatalities
- 2
- Market Crash Injured
- 19
- Market Crash Driver Age
- 67