Sokcho Local Life & Lagoon Healing

Korea's most dramatic mountain landscape — take the cable car to Gwongeumseong Fortress for sweeping granite peaks, or walk the Ulsanbawi Rock trail through ancient pine forests. Peak foliage in October is legendary.

Sokcho is the home of Korean sundubu — silky, freshly-made soft tofu simmered in a fiery red broth with seafood. Dozens of haenyeo-style restaurants line the road back from Seoraksan; the combo of sea air and mountain appetite makes this a must.

A wide, clean East Sea beach backed by the town skyline. The Sokcho Eye — a 72-metre Ferris wheel right on the beach — offers panoramic views over the sea, lagoon, and Seoraksan in the distance. Great at golden hour when the mountains glow.

A tiny fishing village with a secret coastal path — the Badasori-gil (Sea Sound Trail) winds along dramatic cliffs above the turquoise East Sea. The trail is car-free and quiet, connecting the village to the Seoraksan foothills with stunning sea views and sea caves below.

Sokcho's must-visit covered market is packed with East Sea seafood stalls, grilled squid (ojingeo), dak-gangjeong (sweet-crispy chicken), and the city's signature Abai Sundae — a thick blood sausage stuffed with glass noodles, squid, and pork. The market is lively until late evening.

A unique village of North Korean refugees who settled here after the Korean War, connected to the city by the iconic gaetbae — a hand-pulled rope ferry that crosses the lagoon inlet. Made famous by the K-drama "Autumn in My Heart," the village retains its nostalgic atmosphere with narrow alleys and traditional food stalls.

Abai Village's defining dish — an oversized blood sausage stuffed with squid, glass noodles, and pork, served with tteok and dipping sauce. Unlike standard Korean sundae, the Abai version uses squid as a binding agent giving it a distinctly briny, oceanic flavour unique to this North Korean refugee community.

A serene coastal lagoon just minutes from downtown Sokcho — separated from the East Sea by a narrow strip of land. The 7.8 km lakeside path is flat and peaceful, fringed by reeds, willow trees, and small wooden piers where locals fish at dawn. The reflections of Seoraksan across the water on clear mornings are extraordinary.

Sokcho's most relaxed stretch of coastline — a low-key beach backed by a string of design-forward coffee shops with floor-to-ceiling ocean windows. The lighthouse at the end of the breakwater is a favourite photo spot. Perfect for a slow afternoon coffee watching the East Sea before heading home, especially when the afternoon light hits the water.