What to do in Sokcho – 7 Awesome Things not to miss when in Sokcho!

Chances are high that you plan on visiting Seoraksan National Park via Sokcho. But now, you are wondering whether Sokcho itself may also be worth a visit? What is there to even see and do in Sokcho? Well, Sokcho is a town on the northeastern coast of South Korea. Among tourists it is probably best known as the base for visiting Seoraksan National Park.

However, the city itself has a few beautiful spots and intriguing sites which are well worth a visit too! We ended up liking our time in Sokcho very much. That is why, in this Sokcho sightseeing guide, we wish to share our 7 favourite things to see and do while in the city of Sokcho!

What to See and Do in Sokcho

When compared to Seoul, Sokcho is a pretty small city. However, due to its stunning location on the East Sea it is also a rather popular getaway spot for Koreans, especially during the warmer months of the year.

While doing our research on things to see and do in Sokcho before our trip, we actually struggled a bit to find much about the city of Sokcho itself. With this post we intend to fix that! Down below, you can find a list of our favourite 7 activities in and around of Sokcho that you absolutely should not miss!

1. Go hiking inside Seoraksan National Park

Since Sokcho is best known for being the starting point of most trips to Seoraksan National Park, let’s start with that. Seoraksan is famous for its stunning landscapes and many peaks at 1200 meters above sea level.

The admission fee for entering the national park itself is 3.500 KRW per adult.

What to do in Seoraksan NP

• Visit Sinheungsa Buddhist Temple. A stunning temple located at the entrance of Seoraksan NP.
• Ride the Seoraksan Cable Car. For those that want to soak in the views but do not wish to do much hiking. Price: 10.000KRW per person.
• Go hiking. Seoraksan National Park is home to numerous hiking trails. The most famous one among them is probably the Ulsanbawi Hiking Trail. And, we can definitely recommend the latter to anyone visiting Seoraksan National Park for a day trip!

2. Relax at Sokcho Beach

Sokcho Beach is quite popular in South Korea. While there are certainly more stunning beaches in the world, we nonetheless agree that it is one of the nicer beaches in South Korea. And, a great place to spend some time!

The beach is a white sand beach and surrounded by the beautiful clear water of the East Sea. All over the beach you will find cute photo spots and sculptures. There is a ferries wheel next to the beach as well!

Be aware though that you are not allowed to swim in the sea, except from July 10th to August 31st. There are strong currants which can make swimming dangerous. During the official swimming period there are lifeguards to ensure everyone’s safety.

🌊 FUN FACT: 
Maybe you noticed that we called the sea in front of Sokcho 'The East Sea', because that is the name that we read on every sign in Sokcho. A quick research revealed that there is actually an ongoing dispute about the name of this particular sea since 1992. 

In Japan, the sea is called 'The Japanese Sea', which is also the name that is best known around the world. However, North and South Korea refuse to recognise that name. 
Several alternative names were proposed, the East Sea being one of them. However, to this day Japan refused every one of their proposals.

3. Eat Mansuk Dak Gangjeong on the beach during sunset!

In the evenings we observed many Koreans, be it couples, families or friend groups gather on the beach to watch the sunset, eat and drink or take pictures together. On our last evening in Sokcho we decided to join them and created our own little picnic with the Sokcho famous Mansuk Dak Gangjeong!

What is Mansuk Dak Gangjeong?

It is basically glazed fried chicken. When you enter the store they will ask whether you want it spicy or only a little spicy, hand you a white box with the goods, you pay and off you go. One box is typically enough for 2-4 people depending on how much you eat and costs 20.000 KR₩.

In the evening after dark, the whole beach is lit up by huge spots that you would typically expect at a sports field. It had its purpose though, because in Korea during the summer it gets dark way earlier than in Europe. And, that way, the time spent sitting on the beach in the evenings can be prolonged.

4. Walk the Oeongchi Bada Hyangiro Trail

Just down below the Lotte Resort next to Sokcho Beach, you will find the entrance to a wooden walkway following the coastline. When walking said path you will be met with some really stunning views of Sokcho Beach and its surroundings. Entrance to the walkway is not part of the resort, so you are free to enter!

Alongside the path, you will also find some remnants of the Korean war, which we found to be quite interesting. For instance, a small section still had its original barbed wire that South Korea put up to prevent North Korea from landing on their shores. From what we read (via Google Translate) on the signs alongside the path, a big part of the East coast of South Korea used to have fencing along the coast for that exact reason.

Did you know?
When Korea was initially divided, Sokcho was part of North Korea. It wasn’t until the Korean war, that South Korea took the city. Ever since Sokcho has been a part of South Korea. 

5. Visit the Sokcho Expo Tower & Cheongchoho Lake Park

Next to Cheongchoho Lake, a natural lake located right in the middle of the city of Sokcho, you will find the Sokcho Expo Tower as well as Cheongchoho Lake Park. The Expo Tower is 70 metres high and hosts an observation deck. Entrance to the tower costs 2.500 KRW per adult.

Entrance to Cheongchoho Lake Park is free of charge. Especially during sunset, the park and lakeside walk become truly magical! At night a lot of the surrounding buildings and structures start to light up in various colours. In true Korean fashion the park is also home to a few illuminated photo spots and sculptures.

6. Find Street Food at Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market

Next up is Sokcho Central Market, also known as the Tourist and Fishery market. Located in the city centre of Sokcho, the latter is frequented by both locals as well as tourists. The market is divided into several sections that specialise on different goods.

The most interesting one for tourists is certainly the street food section. Here you can find various kinds of local dishes. You can either order for take-away or you can eat on site, if the stall of your choice has a designated seating area.

A lot of the local street food is related to sea food. Especially crab meat seems to be really popular! We tried fried prawn as well as fried crab meat. Other popular dishes were for instance Kimchi pancakes, gimbap, fried chicken and some sort of North Korean sausage.

7. Stroll around Sokcho Lighthouse and Yeounggeumjeong Pavilion

To the north of the city lies Sokcho lighthouse, which was built in 1957. It is actually listed as the Nr.1 attraction in Sokcho and is still operational to this day. However, nowadays you can also visit the lighthouse as an observatory during the day!

From the top you will have gorgeous views over the East Sea, Sokcho city as well as nearby Seoraksan National Park. Admission is free of charge.

Just below the lighthouse lies Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion, which can be reached via a 50 meters long bridge over the East Sea. The latter is definitely worth a visit too if you are in the area. Admission to the pavilion is free of charge as well.

Final Thoughts on Sokcho’s sights and activities

When compared to Seoul or Busan, Sokcho is definitely a small city. As a consequence, there are only a limited amount of things to see and do.

Nonetheless, it is a location that we enjoyed very much and if you intend to visit Seoraksan National Park during you South Korea trip, we highly recommend allocating some time to Sokcho as well. Especially, if you visit during the summer months.

Safe and happy travels!🍀