Sokcho (Korean: 속초; Korean pronunciation: [sʰok̚.tɕʰo]) is a city and major tourist hub located in the northeast of the South Korean province of Gangwon.
Contents
History
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. Since the Korean Armistice Agreement (1953), it has been a part of South Korea.
Tourism
Lakes
Sokcho is home to two lakes, Yeongnang Lake and Cheongchoho.
Daepo harbour is in Daepo-dong, Sokcho. Its attractions include a sea fountain and beach cable car.
Festivals
In 1999, the Gangwon International Tourism Expo was held in Sokcho.
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.
Sokcho is the site of the Seorak Cultural Festival.
Infrastructure
Station
The opening of KTX Gyeonggang Line has made it convenient for travellers to visit Gangwon Province, a 86-minute train ride from Seoul.
Stadium
Sokcho Stadium
Climate
Sokcho straddles the line between a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa) and a humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa).
Sister cities
Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province since June 13, 1996
Jung District, Seoul since January 22, 1997
Gresham, Oregon, United States since June 23, 1985
Taitung County, Taiwan since April 16, 1992
Hunchun, Jilin, People's Republic of China since August 22, 1994
Yonago, Tottori, Japan since October 18, 1995
Khasansky, Primorsky Krai, Russia since July 19, 1996
Nyūzen, Toyama, Japan since October 3, 1996
Sakaiminato, Tottori, Japan since April 9, 2002
Partizansk, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Notable people from Sokcho
Shin Ye-eun (신예은), a South Korean actress
Park Kwang-su (박광수), a South Korean filmmaker
Kim Kang-min (김강민), a South Korean actor under the label of Mystic Story
Monday (birth name: Kim Ji-min, 김지민), member of K-pop group Weeekly
D1 (birth name: Jang Dong-il, 장동일), leader of DKB (band)
In literature
The novel Winter in Sokcho, by Elisa Shua Dusapin, which won the National Book Award for Translated Literature in 2021, takes place in Sokcho. It was subsequently adapted into the 2024 film Winter in Sokcho by director Koyo Kamura.