Sokcho

Sokcho(Korean:속초;Korean pronunciation:[sʰo̞k̚.tɕʰo̞]) is acityand major tourist hub located in the northeast ofGangwon Province, South Korea.
From around the 3rd century to the early 5th century AD, Sokcho was part ofDongye. Originally a sparsely inhabitedfishing villageon the shores of Lake Cheongchoho, it became a major port due to its location on theSea of Japan. Sokcho later became a mineral transfer port in 1937.
When the Korean peninsula was divided into two countries followingWorld War II, Sokcho was placed underNorth Koreancontrol, before being captured by the South Korean army on August 18, 1951.Since theKorean Armistice Agreement(1953), it has been a part of South Korea.
Seoraksan National Park is located in the vicinity of Sokcho and attracts local and international tourists. The city is known for its beach, natural hot springs, golf courses, and fine fishery products.
Sokcho is home to two lakes, Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho.Yeongrangholake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection ofMt. SeorakandUlsanbawiare particularly popular.
Marina Yacht is located in Cheongchoho Lake Park and provides yachting tours on the Sea of Japan. The tours start and finish at Cheongcho Marina, passing Seorakdaegyo Bridge, and Dongmyeonghang Port, Jodo. Marina Yacht rents boats to people with a boat license; it also has a café.
YeongranghoHwarangdoCenter provides various experiences, including horse riding.Daepoharbour is located in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. Its attractions include a sea fountain and beach cable car.
There are a number of well-preserved Buddhist temples in the area around Sokcho. The main building of theSinheungsatemple (Geukrakbojeon) is a major tourist destination (originally built in the 15th century). Also notable is theHyangseongsaji samcheung seoktap -a three-storeypagodaof 4.3 metres. It dates from 652 and is located at the site of theHyangseongsatemple.Yeonggeumjeong, a pavilion built on the shores of Sokcho, is popular for its views of the sunrise.
Abai village nearSeoraksanwas originally established to house North Korean refugees due to the separation of Korea. Consequently, many of the inhabitants have relatives in North Korea. The village has seen increased tourism due to the popularity of Korean DramaAutumn in My HeartonKBS.
In 1999, the Gangwon International Tourism Expo was held in Sokcho.In July 2016, Sokcho became one of the few locations in South Korea wherePokémon Gocould be played due to government restrictions on mapping data. Players flocked to the city, causing public transport tickets to sell out.Many tourists are also attracted by the close proximity of theDMZ.
Sokcho used to have its own airport, linking the city toSeoul. Currently, the city is served by theYangyang International Airport.
The opening ofKTXGyeonggang Linehas made it convenient for travellers to visitGangwon Province, a 86-minute train ride fromSeoul.
Sokcho's traditional market, established in 1953 as the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, offers a variety of items for sale, including fresh fish, dried fish, and various vegetables. It was recently included in the Korea Tourism Organization's list of "Best Traditional Markets for Foreign Tourists". The market is notable for its vibrant atmosphere, where visitors can observe fishmongers bargaining with local shoppers.
Sokcho is known forHoe, which is a raw fish. The coastal waters provide good fishing grounds forOjingeo,Myeongtae,GwangeoandGodeungeo.
Sundubucan be found in the streets of the tofu towns such asSinheungSundubu and Haksapyeong Sundubu — it is made fromSeoraksanand water from the Sea of Japan.
Sokcho offers a unique twist toSundae(not the eponymous dessert) by usingOjingeoinstead of pork intestines. The Ojingeo-sundae consists of squid stir-fry, made with noodles and blood sausage, with carrots, onions, seaweed and spices mixed together, covered with thin fried egg yolk.
Local cuisine can be experienced in the various food districts of the city. "Foodtown" is a two block area dedicated to restaurants where visitors can find mainly Korean style beef pork and chicken restaurants. Daepo harbor, outside of Sokcho on the road to Yangyang offers more than 100 individual mini restaurants serving diverse seafood dishes. An own unique stuffed squid dish, Abai Sundae, can be found in Abai village.
In October Sokcho comes to life with theSeorak Cultural Festival, which includes parades, stage shows, contests, races and various other forms of entertainment. The rice cake making sampling contests are particularly popular.  Another unusual event is the Gaet-Bae, or raft, race.  Two teams propel the rafts across the course by pulling on long handled hooks catching the cable that straddles the deck of each raft.
Sokcho straddles the line between ahumid subtropical climate(Köppen:Cfa)and ahumid continental climate(Köppen:Dfa).
The novelWinter in Sokcho, byElisa Shua Dusapin, which won theNational Book Award for Translated Literaturein 2021, takes place in Sokcho.It was subsequently adapted into the 2024 filmWinter in Sokchoby director Koyo Kamura.