Sokcho exists mainly as the doorstep to Seoraksan National Park, but it's a proper destination in its own right: a fishing port with beaches, a distinctive refugee-village neighbourhood, and an East Sea seafood scene.
Highlights
- Seoraksan National Park — jagged granite peaks, some of Korea's best autumn colour, and trails from easy forest walks to a full cable-car-assisted summit day.
- Abai Village, founded by refugees from the North during the Korean War, reached by a hand-pulled cable ferry across the harbour channel.
- Sokcho Beach and the Sokcho Eye ferris wheel, with views back over the city to the mountains.
- Raw fish (hoe) restaurants along the harbour — Sokcho is known as one of the best places on the east coast for it.
Getting there
Express buses run from Seoul's Gangnam terminal roughly every 30–40 minutes, taking about 2 hours 20 minutes. There's no direct train; the bus is the standard route.
How long
Seoraksan's trails deserve at least half a day on their own, so an overnight stay is strongly recommended over a rushed day trip — a day trip from Seoul is possible but leaves little time in the park itself.