Seoul plans to resume this month the operation of the hugely unpopular water taxi services on the Han River, it revealed Tuesday, in response to an inquiry from Rep. Hong Chul-ho.

According to the ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker, the 3.7 billion won ($3.34 million) water taxi project was a money-losing disaster before the service was suspended in April 2014, with daily average passengers of just seven. 

Seoul spent the 3.7 billion won on installing 17 taxi stands and operating 10 water taxis from 11 ferry points on the Han River from its launch in October 2007. It also spent an additional 260 million won over the last five years of the service for repair and maintenance costs.

Water taxi services were suspended after it was found that Cheonghaejin Marine Co. -- a shipping company linked to the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April 2014 -- was its operator.

As each water taxi can carry up to eight passengers at an approximately 5,000 won cost for a one-way trip, water taxis were introduced as a means of transportation to get away from smoggy traffic jams, while also providing a scenic and efficient way of traveling through Seoul’s greater metropolitan area.

By Kim Da-sol (ddd@heraldcorp.com)