Located along the far east coast of Gangwon Province, Sokcho is home to beaches, national parks and nature spots including Sokcho Beach and Seoraksan National Park.
The journey from Seoul to Sokcho starts by taking an intercity bus from Seoul Gyeongbu Terminal to Sokcho Bus Terminal. As the duration of the bus trip lasts for approximately three hours, it is recommended to bring light snacks. Upon your arrival in Sokcho, you will be greeted by a mixture of countryside scenery and sprawling city vibes.
Sokcho has a wide variety of food and is especially famous for its traditional markets. You can find both traditional Korean dishes and fresh seafood served straight from the ocean at Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, which is an 11-minute walk from the bus terminal. Dak gangjeong, also known as sweet fried chicken, is a trademark snack of Sokcho. You can find it from the many stalls at the market and personalize the dish according to your own taste preferences from sweet to extremely spicy. The crispy and well-seasoned chicken powdered with peanut toppings is perfect as an appetizer. As Sokcho is a port city, seafood is also a must-try at the market. Mulhoe, or cold raw fish soup, is a local dish of Sokcho. It can be seen as a spicy bath of fresh raw fish such as damselfish and abalone freshly scooped from the Sokcho waters, along with other traditional ingredients such as Korean hot pepper flakes and thin noodles. A tour around the market can come to a perfect end with queuing for one of Sokcho’s signature desserts, honeycomb ice cream. It is a vanilla ice cream dessert that comes with honey toppings and a thick chunk of honeycomb. If ice cream is not your preferred choice of dessert, there are plenty of other traditional snacks, drinks and even cafés to choose from.
The next course starts with traveling through the various tourist attractions of Sokcho. As Sokcho is home to many natural spots, it is convenient to check out the national parks or ocean views. For those interested in mountain-hiking, a walk at Seoraksan National Park is recommended. Seoraksan is one of the most famous mountains in Korea, listed as South Korea’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. After riding the cable car or hiking along the tracks, breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset will be waiting for you at peaks like Socheongbong. During the summer seasons, the Biryongpokpo Falls, a waterfall located south from the Seoraksan Small Park, cools the heat away with its water streams that resemble a dragon.
For those interested in the sea, take a taxi to Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory where you can view the East Sea at the high lookout point that is equipped with binoculars. Right under the lighthouse, there is Yeonggeumjeong, a hanok-style pavilion, where you can enjoy the sound of waves hitting the rocks below and walk down the pathway lined across the shore.
Throughout the year, various cultural events take place at Sokcho, lively with youth spirit. The Sokcho Beer Shower Festival is one event where people come together to taste different beers from local beer brands and watch busking performances by various Korean artists. The Seorak Cultural Festival is another event held annually in October to celebrate the rich history and culture of Sokcho. A street parade with local food stalls, artists and musicians will entertain both your eyes and ears. The festival ends with a main parade where concerts by Korean groups and dancers take place under the theme of Sokcho.
At night, the port city sparkles with its illuminating waters and building scenery. Tourists can appreciate this view by riding the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel at Sokcho Beach for a nominal fee. After the ride, follow along the coastlines of Sokcho Beach and dip your toes under the cooling waves or bring your swimwear to the beach for a quick swim in the night sea. You do not need to worry about washing yourself after swimming as there are free showering stands stretched across the beach. Finally, to wrap up the Sokcho trip, the dock at the beach is a great spot to pose for photos with lovely structures and look at the night coastal view with the magnificent Sinsuro Arched Bridge.