Sokcho Beach | Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do

The Popular Sokcho Beach

First opened in 1976, Sokcho Beach (속초해변) is one of Korea’s most popular beaches. Located near Seorak Mountain, Cheoksan Hot Springs, and Yeongrangho, it is made for those who love discovering new landscapes. It is a beautiful white sand beach with a length of 1200m and a width of 59m that is extending through Cheongho-dong, Joyang-dong, and Daepo-dong.

What to Do There

On the bulwark, to the left of the beach, there are many places where you can enjoy hwaleo hoe (fresh sashimi) and boats are also available for those who want to visit Jo Island. A small pine forest is placed behind the beach and there is a camping ground with water supply.

Unlike many of the beaches on Korea’s East Coast, Sokcho Beach has shallow water and the slope is not very steep, so children can play safely during the summer. You can easily travel to Cheoksan Hot Spring or Seorak-dong as it’s close, meaning you can enjoy the sea, and then take a bath in the hot spring by going over a hill or climbing up Seoraksan. Many also visit this beach in winter to watch the sunrise on the New Year’s Day.

If you’re planning to stay by the beach, you have the possibility to rent umbrellas so you can stay protected from the sun. If you’re planning to move around, you can enjoy the numerous unique sculptures and art installations along the beach, perfect for taking Instagrammable shots.

Swimming Hours

From July 10th to August 31st, visitors are free to swim between 08:00 – 21:00.

How to Get There

Sokcho Beach is located only a 10min walking distance away from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.

In order to get from Seoul to Sokcho, bus is the best option (a trip about 2 hours and a half), either from East Seoul Bus Terminal or from Seoul Express Bus Terminal. A one-way ticket is around $20.

To discover more astonishing Korean beaches, check out this article!