A Timeless Travel Classic You Want to Visit Again and Again

For most Koreans, Sokcho easily ranks among the top three travel destinations. It is a place firmly backed by the towering Seoraksan Mountain standing along the spine of the Baekdudaegan Mountain Range, with the cool blue waves of the East Sea rolling in! If you want to see, eat, enjoy, and truly get to know Sokcho inside and out, this course is highly recommended.

Along the way

1. 1
   Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory

   속초 등대전망대

   Located in Yeongnang-dong, Sokcho-si, Sokcho Lighthouse is widely known as the "Yeonggeumjeong Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory." Yeonggeumjeong was originally a rocky hill where the crashing waves produced mysterious sounds reminiscent of a geomungo (traditional Korean zither), giving it its name. During the Japanese colonial period, the stone hill was broken to build a breakwater for the development of Sokcho Port, transforming it into the wide bedrock seen today. The surrounding natural scenery—including the sunrise viewed from the Yeonggeumjeong Sunrise Pavilion, the panoramic view of Seoraksan Mountain from the lighthouse observatory, and the distant peaks of Geumgangsan Mountain along the coastline—harmonizes beautifully with the lighthouse. In particular, the view of Seoraksan Mountain unfolding right before your eyes from the observatory naturally draws exclamations of wonder from visitors.MoreLess

   

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2. 2

   Seokbong Ceramic Museum

   석봉도자기미술관

   Seokbong Ceramic Museum was established by its founder, Director Cho Mu-ho (pen name Seokbong), as a space for viewing and hands-on experience, bringing together the works he crafted in Sokcho alongside pieces by ceramic artists from around the world. It was founded in the hope of serving as an educational site for children and a practical training ground for future ceramic artists. The museum houses 1,103 nationally inspected collection pieces, provides historical and educational DVD screenings, and explains traditional ceramic-making processes and lifestyle culture through 202 terracotta figures. Hands-on craft classes where visitors can touch clay and create their own pieces are always available, and the finished creations can be fired and received later.MoreLess

   

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3. 3

   Sokcho Expo Tower

   속초 엑스포타워

   Expo Tower is an observation tower standing 74 meters tall. Symbolizing the future of Gangwon-do as it develops under the themes of nature, environment, and tourism, its spiral structure evokes the silhouette of a beautiful woman. Situated in a green park near Cheongchoho Lake in Sokcho-si, it is a high-tech observation tower set within a natural park harmonizing mountains and lake. The observatory has a total capacity of around 100 people, and upon reaching the top, visitors can take in panoramic views of Sokcho-si as well as Dalmabong Peak, Ulsanbawi Rock, and Daecheongbong Peak of Seoraksan Mountain.MoreLess

   

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4. 4
   Abai Village Ferry

   아바이마을 갯배

   The only transportation connecting downtown Sokcho and Abai Village in Cheongho-dong across the Sokcho Port waterway is the 'Gaetbae' (ferry). This ferry operates by having two long steel cables anchored with one boat fixed to each cable, and passengers pull the boat forward by hooking hand-held hooks onto the steel cable. Except for the elderly and infirm, everyone on board must pull the boat using these hooks to cross the Cheongchoho Lake waterway. The Gaetbae is a manual, non-powered marine transport, offering not only the fun of pulling the boat across but also a wonderful experience of taking in the coastal atmosphere with seagulls, Cheongchoho Lake, and the port harbor.MoreLess

   

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5. 5
   Seorak Waterpia

   설악 워터피아

   Harmonizing with the natural backdrop of the blue East Sea and beautiful Seoraksan Mountain, Seorak Waterpia is a comprehensive hot spring theme park equipped with spa facilities using 100% natural hot spring water and water amusement attractions. The open-air baths of Waterpia's hot spring sauna offer the greatest appeal, allowing visitors to enjoy hot spring bathing outdoors while taking in views of Seoraksan Mountain. Boasting top-tier water quality at 49 degrees Celsius, Seorak Waterpia stands out from other spas by offering not only year-round hot spring baths but also water play facilities that the entire family can enjoy together.MoreLess

   

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