:Sokcho

From around the 3rd century to the early 5th century AD, Sokcho was part of Dongye. Originally a sparsely inhabited fishing village on the shores of Lake Cheongchoho, it became a major port due to its location on the Sea of Japan. Sokcho later became a mineral transfer port in 1937.

When the Korean peninsula was divided into two countries following World War II, Sokcho was placed under North Korean control, before being captured by the South Korean army on August 18, 1951.{{Cite book |last1=Cho |first1=Young-mee Yu |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9egSEAAAQBAJ&dq=Sokcho+is+a+city+in+Gangwon+Province&pg=PA234 |title=Integrated Korean: Accelerated 2 (Page 234) |last2=Jung |first2=Ji-Young |last3=Ha |first3=Jeeyoung Ahn |date=2021-01-08 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=978-0-8248-8951-7 |pages=234 |language=en}}{{Cite book |last1=Fern |first1=Kelly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOdpSg2tloQC&dq=Sokcho+is+a+city+in+Gangwon+Province&pg=PT122 |title=Songs of My Families: A Thirty-seven Year Odyssey from Korea to America and Back |last2=Fern |first2=Brad |date=2012 |publisher=Lantern Books |isbn=978-1-59056-321-2 |language=en}} Since the Korean Armistice Agreement (1953), it has been a part of South Korea.{{Citation|script-title=ko:속초시|date=2019-10-14|url=https://ko.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=%EC%86%8D%EC%B4%88%EC%8B%9C&oldid=25049475|work=위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전|language=ko|access-date=2019-12-05}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sokcho|title=Sokch'o {{!}} South Korea|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}

{{Main|Seoraksan National Park}}

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

Sokcho is home to two lakes, Yeongrangho and Cheongchoho.{{Cite web|url=http://gangwonepik.weebly.com/sokcho--yangyang.html|title=Sokcho / Yangyang|website=Gangwon EPIK|language=en|access-date=2019-12-03}} Yeongrangho lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection 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; it also has a café.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gangwon.to/en|title=Tourist Attractions - Marina Yacht 상세화면 {{!}} 강원관광-영문 > Trip to Gangwon-do > Tourist Attractions|website=www.gangwon.to|access-date=2019-12-04}}

Yeongrangho Hwarangdo Center provides various experiences, including horse riding.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gangwon.to/en|title=Main {{!}} 강원관광-영문 > Main|website=www.gangwon.to|access-date=2019-12-04}} Daepo harbour is located in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. Its attractions include a sea fountain and beach cable car.{{Cite web|last=박|first=주석|date=2021-01-04|script-title=ko:속초해변~대포항 연결 케이블카 조성 탄력|url=http://www.kado.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=1054809|access-date=2021-04-02|website=강원도민일보|language=ko}}{{Cite web|last=이|first=종건|date=2020-07-09|script-title=ko:대포항의 또 다른 볼거리…속초시 해상분수 시험가동|url=https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20200709081300062|access-date=2021-04-02|website=Yonhap News Agency|language=ko}}

{{Main|Sinheungsa}}

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 views of the sunrise.

{{Main|Abai village}}

Abai village near Seoraksan was originally 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.

In 1999, the Gangwon International Tourism Expo was held in Sokcho.{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelnbike.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=57241|script-title=ko:7번 국도의 낭만이 살아있는 '속초' 가볼만한 곳과 맛집 - 트래블바이크뉴스|date=2018-04-20|website=www.travelnbike.com|language=ko|access-date=2019-06-07}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/13/pokemon-go-south-koreans-remote-area-sokcho-google-maps|title=South Koreans flock to remote northern area to play Pokémon Go|work=The Guardian|date=13 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20160713000873|title=Will 'Pokemon Go' launch in Korea?|publisher=The Korea Herald|date=2016-07-13}} Many tourists are also attracted by the close proximity of the DMZ.

{{Main|Sokcho Airport}}

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 Gyeonggang Line has made it convenient for travellers to visit Gangwon Province, a 86-minute train ride from Seoul.{{Citation|title=New KTX Gyeonggang Line opens, taking passengers from Seoul to Gangneung in less than 2 hours|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=869D2PuPEVo|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}

• Sokcho Stadium

{{See also|Korean cuisine|List of Korean dishes}}

{{Tone|section|date=May 2020}}Sokcho's traditional market, established in 1953 as the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market, offers a variety of items for sale, including fresh fish, dried fish, and various vegetables. It was recently included in the Korea Tourism Organization's list of "Best Traditional Markets for Foreign Tourists". The market is notable for its vibrant atmosphere, where visitors can observe fishmongers bargaining with local shoppers.{{cite web |title=All about Sokcho |url=http://iamontheroad.net/blog/foods-in-sokcho/?ckattempt=1 |website=iamontheroad.net |access-date=1 July 2023 |language=en |date=24 May 2015}}{{Cite web|url=https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/ATR/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=2010687|title=Sokcho has a lot of local specialties sure to delight all travelers.|website=VisitKorea.or.kr|access-date=2019-12-05}}

Sokcho is known for Hoe, which is a raw fish. The coastal waters provide good fishing grounds for Ojingeo, Myeongtae, Gwangeo and Godeungeo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eatyourkimchi.com/korean-hweh/|title=Korean Hweh, aka Raw Seafood|date=2013-06-27|website=Eatyourkimchi|access-date=2019-12-04}}

Sundubu can be found in the streets of the tofu towns such as Sinheung Sundubu and Haksapyeong Sundubu — it is made from Seoraksan and water from the Sea of Japan.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seriouseats.com/2011/03/nasty-bits-korean-blood-sausage.html|title=Nasty Bits: Korean Blood Sausage|website=www.seriouseats.com|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}

File:Ojingeo Sundae.jpg|Ojingeo Sundae

File:Godeungeo Hoe.jpg|Godeungeo Hoe

File:Jeon Bok.jpg|Jeon Bok Hoe

File:Mae Un Tang.jpg|Mae Un Tang

File:Sundubu Jjgae.jpg|Sundubu Jjigae

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.

Sokcho straddles the line between a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa){{cite journal| last = Kottek | first = M.|author2=J. Grieser |author3=C. Beck |author4=B. Rudolf |author5=F. Rubel | title =World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated| journal =Meteorol. Z.| volume =15 | pages =259–263| url = http://www.schweizerbart.de/resources/downloads/paper_free/55034.pdf| doi =10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130| access-date = December 8, 2012| year =2006| issue = 3| bibcode = 2006MetZe..15..259K}} and a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa).{{cite journal |author1=Peel, M. C. |author2= Finlayson B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. |name-list-style=amp | year=2007 | title= Updated world map of the Köppen–Geiger climate classification | journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume=11 |issue= 5 | pages=1633–1644 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode= 2007HESS...11.1633P | url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.pdf | issn = 1027-5606| doi-access=free }}

{{Weather box

| location = Sokcho (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1968–present)

| metric first = Y

| single line = Y

| Jan record high C = 15.8

| Feb record high C = 19.1

| Mar record high C = 26.9

| Apr record high C = 32.5

| May record high C = 34.4

| Jun record high C = 35.3

| Jul record high C = 37.1

| Aug record high C = 38.7

| Sep record high C = 34.1

| Oct record high C = 29.9

| Nov record high C = 27.5

| Dec record high C = 17.8

| year record high C = 38.7

| Jan high C = 4.2

| Feb high C = 6.0

| Mar high C = 10.6

| Apr high C = 16.5

| May high C = 20.9

| Jun high C = 23.5

| Jul high C = 26.7

| Aug high C = 27.5

| Sep high C = 24.0

| Oct high C = 19.5

| Nov high C = 13.1

| Dec high C = 6.6

| year high C = 16.6

| Jan mean C = 0.1

| Feb mean C = 1.9

| Mar mean C = 6.3

| Apr mean C = 11.9

| May mean C = 16.3

| Jun mean C = 19.8

| Jul mean C = 23.4

| Aug mean C = 24.1

| Sep mean C = 20.1

| Oct mean C = 15.1

| Nov mean C = 8.8

| Dec mean C = 2.5

| year mean C = 12.5

| Jan low C = -3.8

| Feb low C = -2.2

| Mar low C = 1.8

| Apr low C = 7.3

| May low C = 12.1

| Jun low C = 16.5

| Jul low C = 20.6

| Aug low C = 21.2

| Sep low C = 16.5

| Oct low C = 10.8

| Nov low C = 4.7

| Dec low C = -1.5

| year low C = 8.7

| Jan record low C = -16.4

| Feb record low C = -16.2

| Mar record low C = -11.6

| Apr record low C = -3.5

| May record low C = 3.8

| Jun record low C = 6.6

| Jul record low C = 12.6

| Aug record low C = 13.7

| Sep record low C = 9.5

| Oct record low C = -0.3

| Nov record low C = -8.7

| Dec record low C = -14.9

| year record low C = -16.4

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 43.5

| Feb precipitation mm = 45.9

| Mar precipitation mm = 52.3

| Apr precipitation mm = 73.3

| May precipitation mm = 88.5

| Jun precipitation mm = 119.5

| Jul precipitation mm = 265.6

| Aug precipitation mm = 298.0

| Sep precipitation mm = 200.6

| Oct precipitation mm = 87.9

| Nov precipitation mm = 92.0

| Dec precipitation mm = 40.1

| year precipitation mm = 1407.2

| unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

| Jan precipitation days = 5.8

| Feb precipitation days = 5.9

| Mar precipitation days = 8.3

| Apr precipitation days = 8.6

| May precipitation days = 9.3

| Jun precipitation days = 11.5

| Jul precipitation days = 15.7

| Aug precipitation days = 15.2

| Sep precipitation days = 11.7

| Oct precipitation days = 7.0

| Nov precipitation days = 7.9

| Dec precipitation days = 4.7

| year precipitation days = 111.6

| Jan snow days = 5.0

| Feb snow days = 5.1

| Mar snow days = 4.1

| Apr snow days = 0.2

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.7

| Dec snow days = 2.2

| year snow days = 17.3

| Jan humidity = 49.0

| Feb humidity = 53.2

| Mar humidity = 58.0

| Apr humidity = 60.5

| May humidity = 68.6

| Jun humidity = 78.7

| Jul humidity = 82.2

| Aug humidity = 82.3

| Sep humidity = 77.8

| Oct humidity = 65.6

| Nov humidity = 56.0

| Dec humidity = 47.9

| year humidity = 65.0

| Jan sun = 185.4

| Feb sun = 176.9

| Mar sun = 194.9

| Apr sun = 211.9

| May sun = 216.3

| Jun sun = 172.4

| Jul sun = 146.3

| Aug sun = 152.4

| Sep sun = 166.8

| Oct sun = 189.8

| Nov sun = 169.0

| Dec sun = 184.3

| year sun = 2166.4

| Jan percentsun = 60.0

| Feb percentsun = 56.4

| Mar percentsun = 51.4

| Apr percentsun = 53.7

| May percentsun = 48.9

| Jun percentsun = 36.8

| Jul percentsun = 30.6

| Aug percentsun = 35.9

| Sep percentsun = 44.2

| Oct percentsun = 54.2

| Nov percentsun = 55.4

| Dec percentsun = 61.4

| year percentsun = 47.8

| source = Korea Meteorological Administration (snow and percent sunshine 1981–2010)

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220129211110/https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf

| archive-date = 29 January 2022

| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/resources/normals/pdf_data/korea_pdf_0106_v2.pdf

| title = Climatological Normals of Korea (1991 ~ 2020)

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 31 January 2022

| pages = II-9, II-10, II-439

| language = ko}}

{{cite web

| url = https://data.kma.go.kr/climate/extremum/selectExtremumList.do?pgmNo=103

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 5 October 2021

| script-title = ko:순위값 - 구역별조회

| language = ko}}

{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161207185450/http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf

| archive-date = 7 December 2016

| url = http://www.kma.go.kr/down/Climatological_2010.pdf

| publisher = Korea Meteorological Administration

| access-date = 7 December 2016

| title = Climatological Normals of Korea

| date = 2011

| page = 499 and 649}}

}}

• {{flagdeco|ROK}} Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province since June 13, 1996
• {{flagdeco|ROK}} Jung District, Seoul since January 22, 1997
• {{flagdeco|US}} Gresham, Oregon, United States since June 23, 1985
• {{flagdeco|ROC}} Taitung County, Taiwan since April 16, 1992
• {{flagdeco|PRC}} Hunchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China since August 22, 1994
• {{flagdeco|JPN}} Yonago, Tottori, Japan since October 18, 1995
• {{flagdeco|RUS}} Khasansky, Primorsky Krai, Russia since July 19, 1996
• {{flagdeco|JPN}} Nyūzen, Toyama, Japan since October 3, 1996
• {{flagdeco|JPN}} Sakaiminato, Tottori, Japan since April 9, 2002
• {{flagdeco|RUS}} Partizansk, Primorsky Krai, Russia [http://vladivostoktimes.ru/show/?id=31147&p=4 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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716200358/http://vladivostoktimes.ru/show/?id=31147&p=4 |date=2011-07-16 }}. Vladivostoktimes.ru. Retrieved on 2013-07-12.

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:Seolak Bridge, Sokcho.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:Lighthouses in Sokcho.jpg|Cheongho Beach

• Shin Ye-eun ({{Korean|hangul=신예은|labels=no}}), a South Korean actress
• Park Kwang-su ({{Korean|hangul=박광수|labels=no}}), a South Korean filmmaker
• Hwang Keum-chan ({{Korean|hangul=황금찬|labels=no}}), a poet born in Sokcho, Gangwon-do
• Kim Kang-min ({{Korean|hangul=김강민|labels=no}}), a South Korean actor under the label of Mystic Story
• Monday (birth name: Kim Ji-min, {{Korean|hangul=김지민 |labels=no}}), singer, dancer, rapper and K-pop idol, member of K-pop girlgroup Weeekly

The novel Winter in Sokcho, by Elisa Shua Dusapin, which won the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2021, takes place in Sokcho.{{Cite web |title=National Book Awards 2021 |url=https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/national-book-awards-2021/ |access-date=November 17, 2021 |website=National Book Foundation}} It was subsequently adapted into the 2024 film Winter in Sokcho by director Koyo Kamura.Callum McLennan, [https://variety.com/2024/film/global/koya-kamura-winter-in-sokcho-1236129804/ "Koya Kamura's Toronto Premiere 'Winter in Sokcho': A Dance Between Art and Isolation"]. Variety, 4 September 2024.

• Seorak Cultural Festival
• List of cities in South Korea
• Dae Jo-yeong (TV series)

{{Reflist}}

{{wikivoyage|Sokcho}}

{{Commons category|Sokcho}}

• [http://www.sokcho.go.kr/ Sokcho city government home page]
• [http://www.sokcho.go.kr/enu Sokcho city government English-language home page]
• [https://www.sokchotour.com/tour Sokcho-si Tourism Org]
• [http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?areaCode=32,5 Sokcho-si :Official Site of Korea Tourism Org]

{{Gangwon}}

{{Metropolitan cities of South Korea}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Cities in Gangwon Province, South Korea

Category:Port cities and towns in South Korea