"For Commuting? Are You Kidding?" Hangang Bus from Magok to Jamsil (28km) Arrives Slower Than a Runner—Proven by Race

[The Financial News] In 2005, the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) variety show 'Saturday' featured a segment called 'Reckless Challenge,' where participants took on seemingly impossible tasks. One of the most iconic episodes was the 'Subway vs. Human Race.'
Racing against the subway was, as the name suggests, a reckless challenge. All participants lost spectacularly to the subway. Later, the program was renamed 'Infinite Challenge.'
A scenario reminiscent of a variety show has played out in real life in 2025.
On the 21st, the YouTube channel 'Maratrainer,' which creates content centered on running, took on a new version of a reckless challenge. This time, the opponent was the Hangang Bus.

The channel's creator, Jin Coach, challenged the Hangang Bus to a speed competition. The running course was set from Magok Dock in Gangseo-gu to Jamsil Dock in Songpa-gu, a distance of 27 kilometers by bike path. The Hangang Bus, which stops at Mangwon Dock and Ttukseom Ferry Terminal, covers a longer route of 28.9 kilometers.
To give the Hangang Bus an advantage, Jin Coach started five minutes after Hangang Bus No. 110 departed Magok Dock at 1:30 p.m.
The Hangang Bus, which had an early start, maintained about a one-kilometer lead throughout the race. Just when it seemed the outcome was set, things took a turn. The gap narrowed, and at the 24-kilometer mark, Jin Coach overtook the bus by a slim margin.
Before the Hangang Bus arrived at Jamsil Dock, Jin Coach crossed the finish line at 3:39 p.m., securing a win for the 'human' side. Although the bus was expected to arrive at 3:37 p.m., docking took extra time, and passengers began disembarking around 3:42 p.m., about five minutes behind schedule.
Jin Coach remarked, "It’s been proven that the Hangang Bus is slower than two legs."

The video sparked a heated response, with over 300 comments from viewers. Most criticized the slow Hangang Bus and Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor who promoted the policy.
Comments included: "Seoul Bike is a super-fast means of transportation," "Considering the handicap of filming and talking along the way, the result could have been even more lopsided," "You were lucky to finish—the bus stops so often," and "It was meant for commuting, but this is what we get?"
Amid the running craze, netizens suggested, "A new standard for elite runners has been set: those faster or slower than the Hangang Bus," "Let’s organize a 27km race called 'Beat the Hangang Bus,'" and "Let’s create a group challenge to beat the Hangang Bus."
In reality, although the Hangang Bus was introduced by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as the nation’s first waterborne public transport, it has been criticized for its slow speed and frequent breakdowns, failing to function effectively as public transportation.
During the planning stage, the Seoul Metropolitan Government estimated that the average speed would be 17 knots (31.5 km/h), with the route from Magok to Jamsil taking 75 minutes. However, since official operations began in September, the bus has been running at 12 knots (23 km/h), and the journey now takes 127 minutes.
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter