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The Ultimate Guide to Sokcho-si You Need to Know
Catalogue
- Overview of Sokcho-si
- Seoraksan
- Sokcho Beach
- Abai Village
- Teddy Bear Farm
- Sinheungsa: A Mountain Temple
- Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory
- Cheoksan Spa
Show More
Sokcho-si is a beautiful coastal city located in the northeast of the Gangwon-Do province of South Korea. The city was the part of North Korea from 1945 till the end of the Korean War. The city is surrounded by a water body from two sides, that enhances the beauty of the Sokcho city. The city is a major tourist hub, famous all around the world for its history, culture, national parks, natural beauty, and local cuisine. The city is a popular gateway to the famous Seoraksan National Park and Sokcho Beach. Other than beaches and parks, there are a lot of things to do in Korea which you can explore on your trip.
The city is known for its beaches, natural hot springs, golf courses, and fine fishery products. Experience the local cuisine in the various food districts of the city. In fact, there is a proper area dedicated to restaurants and food stalls, known as "Foodtown" where you can find mainly Korean style beef, chicken, and pork. If you are in the city in October, then you can enjoy the famous Seorak cultural festival. During the festival, the Sokcho city comes to life, and you can enjoy the parades, races, various contests, stage shows, and various other forms of entertainment. Travel enthusiasts would see this town as a tourist hub, but to the rest of the business world, Sokcho is more of a fishing town as fishing is the main commercial activity of this town. Even domestic tourists often come to Sokcho with their family and friends to sup on the freshest of raw fish with the flavor of salt in the breeze. People visit the beach on New Year’s Eve to watch the first sunrise of the year, and it becomes like a festival to them.
Whether you are a localite or visiting Sokcho-si for a few days, you can explore this city to the fullest in any season of the year, and this is the beauty of this city. Finding famous spots of any city is a time-taking task, so we have made it easy for you, as the given list will give you an idea about the popular attractions of Sokcho. With our guide, explore the best things to do in Korea. Here is the list of top best things to do in South Korea, so get ready for your adventures in Korea in all these spots.
Seoraksan is the part of the Taebaek mountain range in eastern Korea. It is the highest mountain range in Gangwon province and the third highest mountain in South Korea. It is one of the most beautiful mountains of Korea and always be at the top in the list of things to do in South Korea.
Seoraksan is divided into three different regions; Inner Seorak (Naekseorak), Outer Seorak (Oaeseorak) and the South Seorak (Namseorak). Seoraksan boasts some of the prettiest trails and hiking routes in the country. Exploring the Seoraksan is not an easy task, exploring each section is worth though. The Seoraksan tour includes mountain, National park, varieties of flora and fauna with spectacular scenery, cable car ride, Geumganggul Cave, and cultural tour of Seoraksan.
The main attraction of the Seoraksan is the Seoraksan National Park. It is the most iconic park in Korea situated nearby the mountain, and it is famous for its majestic views, clear mountain streams, and vibrant flora and fauna. This park is a UNESCO Biosphere Protection site. It has been designated as a nature reserve because it is home to more than one thousand species of plants and 1,562 animal species, including several rare ones. Take the Seoraksan cable car ride to reach the mountain and take in some breathtaking views of the surrounding. The Geumganggul Cave is located at about 600 meters (2,000 ft) up from the sea level. It was once used as a site of worship, and still, devotees pray from this spot. The Seoraksan is such a place in South Korea that you cannot miss out, you have to visit this place and so make sure you add this on your list of things to do in Korea.
Sokcho Beach is another popular spot in the list of things to do in Korea. This is an utterly gorgeous beach where people come to relax and enjoy the beautiful sunset and sunrise. This place is heavily crowded at the time of New Year's eve to welcome the first sunrise of the new year. At that time, you can even spot some of the celebrities enjoying the sunrise. The sunrise celebration is held with locals and tourists with live concerts and Korean traditional music performances. People pray for the new year and burn the paper after writing about bad things of the past year.
After a long day of explorations, you can come to this place to sit back and rewind. The beach is clean, and it looks stunning at the time of sunset. If you are visiting this beach in the day time, then rent a sun umbrella, lie there in peace and soak the breeze and the warmth of the sunlight.
Watching the first rays of sunlight in the golden sky is absolutely stunning. With its crystal clear blue water and the surrounding view makes this place is perfect for photography. You can get some of the Instagram worthy pictures here. The beach is easily accessible from Sokcho city. So whether you are here in summer or winter, you can always come to the beach and enjoy the scenery.
Abai village is located in Cheong-Ho District. It is a small village of North Korean refugees in the Sokcho city. The residents of the village consist mainly of refugees who escaped from the Hemgyeong province of North Korea during the Korean War. A fair number of tourists come to this village every year. The popularity of the Korean drama "Autumn in My Heart" has increased tourism since 2000. This place is famous for boasting the historical artifacts of the village in the Sokcho City Museum. The museum contains replicas of the original homes that were set up by the refugees. The visitors also come here to try the famous Abai Sundae; a delectable squid stuffed with a mixture of clear noodles, tofu, vegetables, and squid. This is a unique food of Korea, chewy and filled with tons of flavor which you must also try.
Take a ride on the famous village ferry, a small boat that is operated manually. As a passenger, you must help to pull the string of the boat that will make the boat move. If you want to experience something special in Korea, then you must take a ride in this boat. For the "Autumn in My Heart" fans, there are several photo zones in Abai Village that you can see when you get off the boat.
Take a walk around the village and enjoy the beach for a while. There are a few cafes in the village where you can proceed to have a cup of coffee and just relax. Famous for its nostalgic experience, if you ever visit Korea or Seoul, then this village is a must-visit for you. Jot down the name of the village in your things to do in Korea so that you do not miss out on this place.
Who doesn't love the cuddling teddy bears? What you will do if you see hundreds of cute teddy bears all around you? You must be thinking, does this kind of place exist. Believe it or not, such a place does exist in Sokcho,Korea. Teddy Bear Farm is a quirky Sokcho site that is dedicated to bear-shaped plush toys of all variations. From big to small, plain or dressed in hanboks, skiing, mountain-climbing, sun tanning, diving, reading a book and even defending the country, you will see teddy toys of all almost all variety. This Farm is a great place to spend a couple of hours, and if you are with kids, they are gonna love this place. Even Koreans come to this place on weekends with their children and enjoy being at this place.
The Teddy Bear Farm of the Sokcho is the cutest farm in the world. There are three different galleries of teddy bears. In the indoor gallery, you can see teddy bears in scenes portraying Korean life. From the smallest to the biggest teddy bear toys are available here
You will have to buy tickets to visit this place which will cost you 5,000 KRW per person ($5). If you are a teddy bear lover, then you must include this spot in your list of things to do in Korea and spend a couple of hours here. Other than the exhibition, there are also some gift shops where you can buy some cute stuff for your loved ones.
Sinheungsa Temple is located on the slopes of Seoraksan mountain in Sokcho. It is an exquisitely crafted building that was built in the 7th century. It was first known as the Hyangseongsa Temple. It is is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, and it is considered as the oldest existing Zen Buddhist temple. Once the temple was the home to hundreds of monks is now a quiet place to enjoy the tranquil afternoon amidst the Seoraksan.
As you leave the Seokraksan grounds, the first structure that will greet you is the top-heavy Iljumun Gate. Then there is a great unification Buddha with a height of 14.6-meter that is made up using around 108 tons of gilt-bronze. You will find many beautiful bronze incense burners and lanterns are fronting the buddha statue. To reach the Sinheungsa temple, you will have to make your way up a path for 200 to 300 more meters crossing the Hyeonsu-gyo bridge. The interior of the temple is adorned with paintings and golden statues of the buddha. Outside the temple, you can see many beautiful stone sculptures, all with meaning.
The temple is set among the beautiful sight scenery of the mountains and lush green surroundings. To reach the temple, you have to take a long walk in the Sinheungsa and pass through the sharp and jagged peaks of Mt. Seoraksan, so wear comfortable but sturdy footwear for that day. To experience the quiet reflection of this place, you must include this spot in the list of things to do in Korea and be there to learn about the temple and enjoy the natural beauty of the surroundings.
Sokcho is a famous city for its beautiful natural sceneries. It would be best if you make some effort to see the beauty of this city from the Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory. You cannot miss adding this spot in your things to do in Korea list. The Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory is located on top of the hilly contour at the eastern side of the city and so it provides an amazing view of the Sokcho city. It is one of the best spots for enjoying both sunrise and sunset. From the above, you can enjoy the striking view of the East Sea, beautiful greenery Seoraksan Mountain, and the entire Sokcho city. After you reach the top you will realize that this is the best place to have a glance at Sokcho downtown right away. Even local people come to this place to enjoy some time in embracing the beauty of nature and relaxing in peace.
To reach the Lighthouse Observatory, you have to climb up to steel stairs, so wear your footwear accordingly. The opening hours of the Lighthouse Observatory might differ according to the season. So, before heading to the spot, you need to know the opening and closing time either online or with some local help. Do not forget to take your camera with you, because after being amazed by the beauty of the surroundings you will want to click some pictures to have a lifetime memory of this place.
Cheoksan Spa lies in the Cheoksan Hot Springs Zone with Cheoksan Hot Spring Resort. The hot spring water of the Cheoksan Spa features a slightly blue radiance. This place is famous all around the world for its beneficial side. It is beneficial for people with skin diseases, eye diseases, gastroenteric disorders, and neuralgia. The water in the Cheoksan Spa is soft and it is great for your skin. The water here is not only used for external cleansing, but you can also drink it. It is said that drinking the water from the Cheoksan Hot Spring will beautify the skin and improve blood circulation.
Chocksan Spa is located near Seoraksan Mountain, hardly 10 minutes away from the mountains. This is a perfect place to relax after hiking in the mountains. The Hot Spring spa will relieve your fatigue of an invigorating hike. There is a variety of options in the bath to choose from like a hot bath, a hinoki bath, massage baths, a warm/kids bath, a cold bath, a cold waterfall bath, a steam room, and some saunas. There is a small heated floor area to take rest. The water is clean, and it feels really amazing to experience the hot spring bath. If you ever get a chance to visit South Korea, you cannot miss out on this heavenly place with lots of benefits for your mind and body. Write it down now in your list of things to do in Korea so that it will remind you to visit there on your South Korea tour.
If you were in a dilemma till now then by now, you must have made your mind to visit South Korea once. Sokcho-ci is a gorgeous city, and there are plenty of things to do in Korea for everyone. The city is very close to Seoul, and it takes only 2.5 hours by bus to reach Sokcho from there. Even for domestic people, this city is an excellent place for a weekend getaway and an ideal location for vacationing in summer. Whether you are a calm person or an adventure seeker, the Sokcho city will amaze you with surprises and amusements. There are a lot of activities for the adventure lovers. Whether you come on this trip with your families, friend groups, or partners, there are several cool stuff to do in Sokcho-si that will match the points of interest of almost everyone. So, do not waste a minute more in thinking anything else, grab the list of things to do in Korea, pack your stuff and head to this beautiful city to explore it before you change your mind. Happy traveling around the Sokcho-si.
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