Sokcho (속초시, 束草市, bind.grass.city) is a city in Gangwon-do. The population as of 2004 was 88,386, including:
- 87,933 Koreans and
- 453 non-Koreans.
- Area: 105.25㎢
- Population density: 850/㎢(2003.7)
- Number of households: 33,716(2003.7)
- Administrative divisions: 8 dong
- Location of city hall: 469-6 Jungang-dong, Sokcho-shi (속초시 중앙동 469-6)
- City flower: Chrysanthemum (국화)
- City tree: Ginkgo (은행나무)
- City bird: Dove (비둘기)
[edit] General information
Sokcho is located on the northeast coast of Korea and is home to several fine beaches. Sokcho is most known as the gateway to Seoraksan National Park, and the point of departure for tours to Geumgangsan in North Korea.
Sokcho can be accessed by bus from Seoul, Incheon and Busan at the Express Bus terminal located in Joyang-dong near Sokcho Beach, or the Local Bus Terminal in downtown Sokcho, near the Ferry terminal. A ferry runs between Sokcho and Jarubino (near Vladivostok), Russia. There is also one flight daily to Busan from Yangyang International Airport, about 30 km south of the city. Occasional charters to Japan and Russia can also be found from the airport, and Jeju Air plans to begin regular service between Yangyang and Gimpo in Seoul beginning in the summer of 2006. There are no regular scheduled flights from Sokcho Airport.
To the north of the city is the county of Goseong, to the west is the county of Inje, to the south is the county of Yangyang, and to the east is the sea.
As Sokcho is next to the sea it has a maritime climate, and due to the Taebaek Mountains blocking the wind in the winter it is about 5 degrees warmer than cities at the same latitude on the west side of the country (although since Sokcho is somewhat to the north, the only areas directly west of it on the other sea are in North Korea, except for the island of Baengnyeong-do). There is less precipitation in summer and more in the autumn and winter in Sokcho than other parts of the country. The average yearly temperature is 11.8℃, the average in January is －0.5℃, and the average in August is 23.8℃. The average yearly precipitation is 1,300 mm.
[edit] Education
Sokcho is home to two universities, Dong-u College, and Gyeongdong University (located in Goseong-gun, 10 minutes north of the city).
[edit] Restaurants and Bars
[edit] Restaurants
As the average Korean, Japanese, and Chinese restaurants are in abundance throughout Korea and are easy for foreigners to find, the following restaurants reflect a sampling of restaurants considered to be either popular or are western-friendly choices and other ethnic foods.
[edit] Tourism
- Abai Village. Located on the end of the long peninsula that creates the harbour of Sokcho, it is accessible by a primitive ferry from downtown. Abai is the home of Abai sundae and a number of restaurants here serve it on plates costing from 10,000 won and up.
- Teddy Bear Farm. See militarized teddy bears patrolling the DMZ, teddys in all sorts of roles. 2,000 won admission. Written "Closed Tuesdays" but has been open on Tuesdays before and may not apply to high season..... Nohak-dong, Sokcho-shi, Gangwon-do.
- Seorak Sunrise Park
- Seoraksan National Park
- Daepo Harbour (and nearby Oeongchi)
- Waterpia
- Numerous condos and golf courses
- Ceramic Museum
Specialties of Sokcho include:
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Getting there
| Section
| Service time
| Interval
| Time required
|
| Gangnam Terminal→Sokcho
| 06:30 ~ 23:30
| 28 times/ 1 day (every30 min.)
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
| Sokcho→Gangnam Terminal
| 06:30 ~ 23:30
| 28 times/ 1 day (every30 min.)
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
| Dongseoul→Sokcho
| 07:00 ~ 19:30
| 11 times/ 1 day
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
| Sokcho→Dongseoul
| 07:20 ~ 19:30
| 11 times/ 1 day
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
| Incheon→Sokcho
| 07:10 ~ 18:40
| 9 times/ 1 day
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
| Sokcho→Incheon
| 07:10 ~ 18:40
| 9 times/ 1 day
| 3 hours 30 min.
|
[edit] External links
