Sokcho

Sokcho ( ko, 속초; ()) is a city in Gangwon Province, South Korea. It is located in the far northeast of Gangwon. The city is a major tourist hub, and a popular gateway to nearby Seoraksan national park. Sokcho is home to the few lakes: Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho that are naturally created by the Sea of Japan It was under DPRK control from 1945 to 1950, but on August 18, 1951, the South Korean army captured it.

History

Sokcho originally was a part of Dongye from roughly 3rd-century BC to around early 5th-century. Sokcho started from just a fishing village with a few people around Cheongchoho. In 1905, it became one of the major ports because of its geological feature. Since Cheongchoho lake is adjacent to the Sea of Japan, big ships were able to come in and out with ease. Later on, Sokcho, linked with Seoul by air and road, the city became a mineral transfer port in 1937. Upon the division of the Korean peninsula into two countries following World War II, Sokcho was on the North Korean side of the border, but since the Korean War armistice (1953), it has been a part of South Korea.

Tourism

Seoraksan National Park is located in the vicinity of Sokcho, and attracts many domestic and international tourists. The city itself is known for the beach, natural hot springs and golf courses, as well as its fine fishery products.

The nearby '' Yeongrangho'' lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection of Seoraksan and its Ulsanbawi are particularly popular. There are a number of 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 magnificent views of the sunrise, as well as for hearing the sound of the sea. It is thought that the pavilion was built at this location for sonic reasons.

Marina Yacht is located in Cheongchoho Lake Park and it provides a yacht tour on a wide expanse of the Sea of Japan. The yacht sailing begins and ends at Cheongcho Marina passing Seorakdaegyo Bridge, Dongmyeonghang Port, Jodo in order. Marina Yacht rents boats to people who have a boat driving license. The place also operates a café.

Yeongrangho Hwarangdo Experience Center is held various experience programs, horse riding members recruitment, and annual World Knight Championship. The center contributes to the transmission of traditional horseback martial art and popularization, and vitalization of horse riding.

Abai village near Seoraksan was originally set up as an area to house North Korean refugees in Sokcho due to the separation of the two Koreas. Consequently, many of the population have relatives in North Korea. The village has seen increased tourism due to the popularity of the Korean Drama '' Autumn in My Heart'' on KBS.

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 bus tickets to sell out.

In 1999, Gangwon International Tourism Expo was held.

Today, a number of tourists are also attracted by the closeness to the DMZ.

Sokcho used to have its own airport, linking the city to Seoul. Currently, the city is served by the Yangyang International Airport.

The opening of KTX Kyung Kang line has made it convenient for travelers to visit Gangwon-Do province which is only an 86-minute train ride that starts from Seoul and tons of attractions.

Daepo harbor is a port located in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. Mt. Seorak and the East Coast (of South Korea) turn into tourist attractions rather than national professional fishing port, Daepo harbor against tourists began to serve as destinations. Sokcho City offers various attractions such as sea fountain and beach cable car at Daepo harbor.

File:Ulsanbawi 1.jpg, Ulsanbawi is a rock with 6 peaks
File:Ulsanbawi2.jpg, Ulsanbawi is a rock with 6 peaks (2019)
File:Sokcho Beach 2019.jpg, Dong Myung Hang
File:Sokcho Beach2 2019.jpg, Dong Myung Hang
File:Yeongrangho 2019.jpg, Yeongrangho (Yeonglangho, Yeongnangho) Lake
File:Cheongchoho 2019.jpg, Cheongchoho Lake
File:Marina Yacht.jpg, Cheongcho Marina
File:Marina Yacht 2019.jpg, Cheongcho Marina
File:KTX Stay.jpg, KTX (Korea Train eXpress) Stay

Food

Sockho's traditional market is full of things to see, buy, and eat. Formed in 1953 as the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, it was included on the Korea Tourism Organization's list of “Best Traditional Markets for Foreign Tourists” last year. With fresh fish caught off the coast in the Sea of Japan to dried fish and various vegetables, one can have fun just looking around and watching the fishmongers bargaining with local market goers.

Sokcho is known for Hoe, which is a raw fish. The coastal waters provide good fishing grounds for Ojingeo, Myeongtae, Gwangeo and Godeungeo.

Sundubu can be found in the streets of the tofu towns such as Sinheung Sundubu and Haksapyeong Sundubu - it is made from Seoraksan and Sea of Japan water.

Sokcho offers a unique twist to Sundae (not the eponymous dessert) by using Ojingeo instead of pork intestines. The Ojingeo-sundae consists of squid stir-fry, made with noodles and blood sausage, with carrots, onions, seaweed and spices mixed together, covered with thin fried egg yolk.
File:Ojingeo Sundae.jpg, Ojingeo Sundae
File:Godeungeo Hoe.jpg, Godeungeo Hoe
File:Gwageo Hoe.jpg, Gwangeo Hoe
File:Jeon Bok.jpg, Jeon Bok Hoe
File:Mae Un Tang.jpg, Mae Un Tang
File:Sundubu Jjgae.jpg, Sundubu Jjigae

Culture

Local cuisine can be experienced in the various food districts of the city. "Foodtown" is a two block area dedicated to restaurants where visitors can find mainly Korean style beef pork and chicken restaurants. Daepo harbor, outside of Sokcho on the road to Yangyang offers more than 100 individual mini restaurants serving diverse seafood dishes. An own unique stuffed squid dish, Abai Sundae, can be found in Abai village.

In October Sokcho comes to life with the Seorak Cultural Festival, which includes parades, stage shows, contests, races and various other forms of entertainment. The rice cake making sampling contests are particularly popular. Another unusual event is the Gaet-Bae, or raft, race. Two teams propel the rafts across the course by pulling on long handled hooks catching the cable that straddles the deck of each raft.

Climate

Sokcho straddles the line between a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen: ''Cfa'') and a humid continental climate ( Köppen: ''Dfa'').

Sister cities

* Jeongeup, North Jeolla since June 13, 1996
* Jung-gu, Seoul since January 22, 1997
* Gresham, Oregon, United States since June 23, 1985
* Taitung County, Taiwan since April 16, 1992
* Hunchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China since August 22, 1994
* Yonago, Tottori, Japan since October 18, 1995
* Khasansky, Primorsky Krai, Russia since July 19, 1996
* Nyūzen, Toyama, Japan since October 3, 1996
* Sakaiminato, Tottori, Japan since April 9, 2002
* Partizansk, Primorsky Krai, Russia South Korean Investors Took a Fancy to Partizansk. It is planned to build an enterprise on production of charcoal in the city of miners - Economics - Vladivostok Times. Far East media news. Russian news. Vladivostok
. Vladivostoktimes.ru. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.

Gallery

File:Korea-Sokcho-South of lake panorama.jpg, Sokcho south of Lake Cheongchoho
File:Korea-Seorak Mountains behind Sokcho-01.jpg, Seorak Mountains adjacent to Sokcho
File:Korea-Sokcho-Squid.Market-01.jpg, Squid drying at the Taepo Fish Market in Sokcho
File:Korea-Sokcho-Sinsuro Bridge-01.jpg, Sinsuro Arched Bridge over Lake Cheongchoho in Sokcho
File:Korea-Sokcho-Squid boats on Cheongchoho Lake-01.jpg, Squid boats on Lake Cheongchoho in Sokcho
File:Korea-Sokcho-Expo Tower-01.jpg, Expo Tower in Sokcho

Notable people from Sokcho

* Shin Ye-eun (Hangul: 신예은), a South Korean actress
* Park Kwang-su (Hangul: 박광수), a South Korean filmmaker
* Hwang Keum-chan (Hangul: 황금찬), a poet born in Sokcho, Gangwon-do
* Kim Kang-min (Hangul: 김강민), a South Korean actor under the label of Mystic Story
* Monday (birth name: ''Kim Ji-min'', Hangul:김지민 ), singer, dancer, rapper and K-pop idol, member of K-pop girlgroup Weeekly

See also

* Seorak Cultural Festival
* List of cities in South Korea
* Dae Jo Yeong (TV series)

References

External links

Sokcho city government English-language home page

Sokcho-si :Official Site of Korea Tourism Org

{{Authority control

Cities in Gangwon Province, South Korea
Port cities and towns in South Korea