Sokcho: Beach, Lagoon and Coastal Trails
Accommodation in Sokcho
Sokcho can be explored through its beach, lagoon, coastal trail and cultural history. The wider Seorak travel area also offers the mountain scenery of Seoraksan.
Beach and Lagoon
Sokcho Beach opened in 1976 and is one of Korea’s representative beaches. The seawater is clear, the water is shallow and the shore slopes gently. These features describe the beach in terms of its water and shoreline. Yeongnangho is a natural lagoon in the Sokcho area. It has a circumference of eight kilometers and an area of 360,000 pyeong. At Sokcho Beach, clear water and the shape of the shoreline define the beach; at Yeongnangho, the lagoon’s size takes center stage.
On Foot by the Sea and Across the Waterway
The Sokcho Oeongchi Badahyanggiro Trail runs from Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi Port and is 1.74 kilometers long. It follows the coast and includes both wooden boardwalk sections and unpaved stretches. Plan a walk along the 1.74-kilometer route from Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi Port, where wooden boardwalks alternate with unpaved stretches.
The Oeongchi section comprises four themed trails: Bamboo Meditation, Sky Deck, National Security Experience and Rock Observation.
For a different way to get around, take the hand-pulled Gaetbae ferry in Sokcho Harbor, which crosses the waterway between downtown and Abai Village in Cheongho-dong. The trail follows the coast, while the ferry crosses the waterway between downtown and Abai Village.
Culture and History in Sokcho
Abai Village was founded by North Korean refugees during the Korean War, mainly by people from Hamgyeong-do Province. The village is in the Sokcho area and offers a historical perspective on the region. Its restaurant street serves Hamheung-style cold buckwheat noodles, stuffed squid and North Korean-style sausage soup.
At the Sokcho City Museum, you can explore Sokcho’s distinctive folk culture and experience local folk culture firsthand. The Sokcho City Museum focuses on folk culture; Abai Village brings together the history of refugees and the food served along its restaurant street.
Mountain Scenery in the Wider Seorak Travel Area
Sokcho accounts for the largest share of the Seorak Special Tourist Zone’s area. The zone gives visitors access to both seascapes and coastal lagoon scenery, as well as the mountain scenery of Seoraksan.
The Seoraksan Cable Car starts in Seoraksan National Park; the ride to Gwongeumseong Fortress takes about ten minutes. From the cable car, you can see landmarks such as Ulsanbawi Peak and the Manmulsang Rocks. The fortress offers panoramic views of Seoraksan. From the cable car, you can see Ulsanbawi Peak and the Manmulsang Rocks; from Gwongeumseong Fortress, take in panoramic views of Seoraksan.
Discover more destinations: Cheorwon-gun, Goseong, Inje-Gun, Jeongseon-gun, Chuncheon, Wonju, Hoengseong-gun, Yangyang-Gun.
For the main travel overview: Gangwon-Do.
