Sokcho
Encyclopedia
Sokcho is a city
in Gangwon-do
province, South Korea
. It is located in the far northeast of Gangwon-do
. Lying north of the 38th parallel, the city belonged to North Korea
from 1945 until the end of the Korean War
, when the dividing line between the two Korean states was officially altered. Consequently, many of the population have relatives in North Korea. Today, Sokcho receives a number of tourists attracted by the closeness to the DMZ
. The city is also a well-known gateway to nearby Seoraksan
national park.
Until the opening of the airport in Yangyang County
, Sokcho had its own airport, linking the city to Seoul
. The city still attracts many national and international tourists, not only because of Seorak-san, but also because of its fine fishery products. The beach of Sokcho has a good reputation, although it is only open for 42 days every year. There are natural hot springs in Sokcho, some of which have been developed into spas and pleasure swimming halls. There are also golf courses which are popular because of their natural surroundings.
The nearby Yeongrangho lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection of Seorak-san and its Ulsan-bawi are particularly popular. There are a number of well-preserved Buddhist temples in the area around Sokcho. The main building of the Sinheungsa
temple (Geukrakbojeon) is a popular tourist destination (originally built in the 15th century). Also popular 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 is a popular pavilion built on the shores of the Sea of Japan
(East Sea). It is not only popular for its magnificent views of the sunrise, but also for the sound of the sea which is thought to be particularly nice at this site. It is thought that the pavilion was built at this location for sonic reasons.
Sokcho is home to one of the few lakes naturally created by the sea. The city itself is not very lively. There are many typical Korean grey flats and it looks like a city that stood still in the 70s. There are not so many typical Korean beer-gardens and restaurants. As a base to explore Seoraksan, it is a perfect spot.
In October Sokcho comes to life with the Seorak Cultural Festival
. There is no shortage of events in which to participate. Parades, stage shows, contests, races and various other forms of entertainment all fill the calendar during the festival. And what festival would be complete without row after row of food stalls. An extremely popular event is the rice cake making contest, and the sampling that follows. The locals tell one not to miss the "Taffy Vendors". A troupe of professional entertainers that sing, dressed as the self described "Traditional Korean Beggar", who donate all proceeds from the sale of taffy and their CDs, to charities. 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.
, Korea
since June 13, 1996 Jung-gu, Seoul
since January 22, 1997 Gresham, Oregon
since June 23, 1985 Taitung County
since April 16, 1992 Hunchun
, China
since August 22, 1994 Yonago, Tottori
since October 18, 1995 Khasansky, Primorsky Krai
since July 19, 1996 Nyūzen, Toyama
since October 3, 1996 Sakaiminato, Tottori
since April 9, 2002 Partizansk
, Russia
Administrative divisions of South Korea
||South Korea is divided into 8 provinces , 1 special autonomous province , 6 metropolitan cities , and 1 special city...
in Gangwon-do
Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...
province, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It is located in the far northeast of Gangwon-do
Gangwon-do (South Korea)
Gangwon-do is a province of South Korea, with its capital at Chuncheon. Before the division of Korea in 1945, Gangwon and its North Korean neighbour Kangwŏn formed a single province.-History:...
. Lying north of the 38th parallel, the city belonged to North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
from 1945 until the end of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, when the dividing line between the two Korean states was officially altered. Consequently, many of the population have relatives in North Korea. Today, Sokcho receives a number of tourists attracted by the closeness to the DMZ
Korean Demilitarized Zone
The Korean Demilitarized Zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula that serves as a buffer zone between North and South Korea. The DMZ cuts the Korean Peninsula roughly in half, crossing the 38th parallel on an angle, with the west end of the DMZ lying south of the parallel and...
. The city is also a well-known gateway to nearby Seoraksan
Seoraksan
Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon province in eastern South Korea. It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. After the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seoraksan is the third highest mountain in South Korea. The...
national park.
Until the opening of the airport in Yangyang County
Yangyang County
Yangyang County is a county in Gangwon Province, South Korea. The county is located in the northeast of the country in Gangwon-do...
, Sokcho had its own airport, linking the city to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. The city still attracts many national and international tourists, not only because of Seorak-san, but also because of its fine fishery products. The beach of Sokcho has a good reputation, although it is only open for 42 days every year. There are natural hot springs in Sokcho, some of which have been developed into spas and pleasure swimming halls. There are also golf courses which are popular because of their natural surroundings.
The nearby Yeongrangho lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection of Seorak-san and its Ulsan-bawi are particularly popular. There are a number of well-preserved Buddhist temples in the area around Sokcho. The main building of the Sinheungsa
Sinheungsa
Sinheungsa, sometimes spelled Shinheungsa, is a head temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism. It is situated on the slopes of Seoraksan in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, South Korea....
temple (Geukrakbojeon) is a popular tourist destination (originally built in the 15th century). Also popular 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 is a popular pavilion built on the shores of the Sea of Japan
Sea of Japan
The Sea of Japan is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, between the Asian mainland, the Japanese archipelago and Sakhalin. It is bordered by Japan, North Korea, Russia and South Korea. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it has almost no tides due to its nearly complete enclosure from the Pacific...
(East Sea). It is not only popular for its magnificent views of the sunrise, but also for the sound of the sea which is thought to be particularly nice at this site. It is thought that the pavilion was built at this location for sonic reasons.
Sokcho is home to one of the few lakes naturally created by the sea. The city itself is not very lively. There are many typical Korean grey flats and it looks like a city that stood still in the 70s. There are not so many typical Korean beer-gardens and restaurants. As a base to explore Seoraksan, it is a perfect spot.
In October Sokcho comes to life with the Seorak Cultural Festival
Seorak Cultural Festival
The Seorak Cultural Festival is a local cultural festival annually held every end of October in Sokcho city, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Sokco is a tourism city surrounded by Mt...
. There is no shortage of events in which to participate. Parades, stage shows, contests, races and various other forms of entertainment all fill the calendar during the festival. And what festival would be complete without row after row of food stalls. An extremely popular event is the rice cake making contest, and the sampling that follows. The locals tell one not to miss the "Taffy Vendors". A troupe of professional entertainers that sing, dressed as the self described "Traditional Korean Beggar", who donate all proceeds from the sale of taffy and their CDs, to charities. 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.
Climate
Sister cities
JeongeupJeongeup
Jeongeup is a city in North Jeolla Province, South Korea. The city limits include Naejang-san National Park, a popular destination particularly in autumn due to its foliage...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
since June 13, 1996 Jung-gu, Seoul
Jung-gu, Seoul
Jung-gu is one of the 25 gu which make up the city of Seoul, South Korea. It is located on the north side of the Han River, and is the historical center of the city .-Overview:...
since January 22, 1997 Gresham, Oregon
Gresham, Oregon
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 90,205 people, 33,327 households, and 22,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,071.6 people per square mile . There were 35,309 housing units at an average density of 1,593.8 per square mile...
since June 23, 1985 Taitung County
Taitung County
Taitung County is a county in eastern Taiwan. The name means "Eastern Taiwan". Taitung County is also known as 後山 by many of the locals, meaning behind the mountains or the back mountains. Taitung is officially administered as a county of Taiwan, Republic of China.Taitung runs along the south east...
since April 16, 1992 Hunchun
Hunchun
Hunchun is a county-level city in the Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, far eastern Jilin province, Northeast China. It borders North Korea and Russia , has over 250,000 inhabitants, and streching on a 5,145 square-kilometer...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
since August 22, 1994 Yonago, Tottori
Yonago, Tottori
is a city located in the northwest of Tottori Prefecture, Japan, facing the Sea of Japan, and adjacent to Shimane. It is the prefecture's second largest city after Tottori and therefore a commercial center of the western part of this prefecture....
since October 18, 1995 Khasansky, Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai
Primorsky Krai , informally known as Primorye , is a federal subject of Russia . Primorsky means "maritime" in Russian, hence the region is sometimes referred to as Maritime Province or Maritime Territory. Its administrative center is in the city of Vladivostok...
since July 19, 1996 Nyūzen, Toyama
Nyuzen, Toyama
is a town located in Shimoniikawa District, in north-eastern Toyama Prefecture, Japan.With the Sea of Japan to the north, and Kurobe River to the west Nyūzen is located in the center of an alluvial fan. The town is famous for its , as well as its tulips which became the official in...
since October 3, 1996 Sakaiminato, Tottori
Sakaiminato, Tottori
is a city in the northern Tottori Prefecture, Japan. At the northern end of Yumigahama Peninsula, it faces the Sea of Japan, another sea Nakaumi and Sakai channel.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 35,710 and the density of 1,240 persons per km²...
since April 9, 2002 Partizansk
Partizansk
Partizansk is a town in Primorsky Krai, Russia, located on a spur of the Sikhote-Alin mountains, about east of Vladivostok. Population: The town was formerly known as Suchan and Gamarnik.-Geography:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
See also
- Seorak Cultural FestivalSeorak Cultural FestivalThe Seorak Cultural Festival is a local cultural festival annually held every end of October in Sokcho city, Gangwon Province, South Korea. Sokco is a tourism city surrounded by Mt...
- List of cities in South Korea
- Dae Jo Yeong (TV series)Dae Jo Yeong (TV series)Dae Joyeong is a historical drama aired on KBS1.The Korean drama Dae Jo-yeong is about the life of Dae Jo-yeong, also known as the founder of the kingdom of Balhae.-Early:...