Sokcho

Sokcho (Korean: 속초; (Korean pronunciation: [sʰo̞k̚.tɕʰo̞])) is a city and major tourist hub located in the northeast of Gangwon Province, South Korea.

Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan National Park is located near Sokcho and attracts local and international tourists. The city is known for its beaches, natural hot springs, golf courses, and fine fishery products.

Lakes

Sokcho is home to two lakes, Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho. Yeongrangho Lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflections of Mt. Seorak and Ulsanbawi are 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 and has a café.

Yeongrangho Hwarangdo Center provides various experiences, including horse riding. Daepo harbour is located in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. Its attractions include a sea fountain and beach cable car.

Buddhist temples

There are several well-preserved Buddhist temples in the area around Sokcho. The main building of the Sinheungsa temple (Geukrakbojeon) is a major tourist destination (originally built in the 15th century). Also notable is the Hyangseongsaji samcheung seoktap—a three-storey pagoda of 4.3 metres. It dates from 652 and is located at the site of the Hyangseongsa temple. Yeonggeumjeong, a pavilion built on the shores of Sokcho, is popular for its views of the sunrise.

Traditional village

Abai village near Seoraksan was initially 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 Drama Autumn in My Heart on KBS.

Festivals

In 1999, the Gangwon International Tourism Expo was held in Sokcho. In July 2016, Sokcho became one of the few locations in South Korea where Pokémon Go could be played due to government restrictions on mapping data. Players flocked to the city, causing public transport tickets to sell out. The proximity of the DMZ also attracts many tourists.