Seoraksan National Park

Also called as Mt. Seolsan and Mt. Seolbongsan, the mountains were named Seorak because the snow would not melt for a long period of time and its rocks stay white like snow.  In November 1965, the Seoraksan Mountains district was designated as a Natural Monument preservation area.

Afterwards in December 1973, it was designated as park preservation area, and in August 1982, as a Biosphere Preservation District by UNESCO.

The park is spread about in 4 cities and counties, in Sokcho, Inje, Goseong and Yangyang.  Featuring the highest peak Daecheongbong, the east side is called OeSeorak and the west is called NaeSeorak, which is divided again into North NaeSeorak and South NaeSeorak.  North NaeSeorak is composed of Bukcheon stream, which flows to Ingyecheon stream and Baekdamcheon stream.  There are numerous valleys in NaeSeorak.  

Follow the Baekdamcheon Valley where all the streams meet and you will reach Baekdamsa Temple, which is known for its beautiful scenery. Follow upstream and there is Gayadong Valley and Suryeomdong Valley, and past Yeongsiam and Mangyeongdae there is Madeungryeong ridge(1,327m) that leads to Seorakdong.  Follow Suryeomdong Valley and you will reach Waryong Waterfall and Ssangpok.  Go up the mountain a bit more from here and you will reach Bongjeongam(1,224m above sea level).  Once you mount Daecheong Peak you can view the mountain peaks, and the sunrise viewed from here will make your heart pious.  South NaeSeorak directs the valley from the Oknyeotang area to Hangyeryeong.

Daeseung Waterfall north of Jangsudae is the most beautiful site of NaeSeorak, which is 88m high.  On the south valley of Yongdaeri there is the Twelve Fairy Bathing Spring, Oktang Waterfall, and Yongtang Waterfall.

Seorak Waterpia

Seorak Waterpia is a theme park offering hot springs facilities and outdoor leisure activities together. Nestled in Seorak Hanhwa Resort at Mt. Seoraksan, Seorak Waterpia uses only pure Choeksan mineral waters, which is 49 degrees. It comes from the layer formed during the Mesozoic Era, and the water volume used per day is about 3,040 tons. With its abundance of cations (such as sodium, calcium, and magnesium) and anions (such as chlorine, carbonic acid, and sulphuric acid), hop spings are good for stess, neuralgia, arthritis, and geriatric diseases.
There are various facilities at Seorak Waterpia, which is the first hot springs resort opened in July 1997. You can enjoy the artificial waves at the Waves Pool, or the stream of the valley at the Stream Pool. At the theme zone, the Rafting Zone and Body Slider will give you thrill and fun. In addition, there were outdoor leisure spa facilities such as Lovers Bath, Rock Bath, and Cave Bath, and sauna facilities such as Prickle Bath, Wood Bath, Outdoor Bath, and so on. Its 18-hole golf course and many attractions of Seorak Plaza Land make here much more attractive to relax and have fun with your family than any other place.

Abai Village

The village of Cheongho-dong is now the hometown to many people of North Korean ancestry and is commonly called ‘Abai village.’   The word ‘Abai’ comes from the Hamgyeong-do Province dialect meaning ‘an aged person.’   Many elderly people fled to Cheongho-dong from North Korea during the Korean War; the large number of older residents resulted in the town’s current nickname.    
The streets of Cheongho-dong are lined with small Korean houses reminding many of Seoul in the 1970s.  The simple nature of the town and quietness of the sea make for a unique atmosphere in Cheongho-dong.  This area became extremely popular after the Korean drama ‘Gaeul Donghwa’ (Autumn in My Heart) was filmed here.  In the drama, the lead actress’s mother had a supermarket in Cheongho-dong.  Nearby the supermarket the lead actress often took a boat, which has now become a popular attraction for tourists.   Holding up to 35 people, this ‘Gaetbae’ boat operates on manpower (people pulling on ropes moving the boat across a waterway) and can be taken from downtown Sokcho to Cheongho-dong.  When looking for a bite to eat, Abai sundae and hamheung naengmyeon are two of the most popular dishes.  

Gwongeumseong

Gwongeumseong is the site of a castle ruins called Mt. Seoraksan, and it is also known as Mt. Onggeumsan Castle, or Toto Castle. It is located on the steep Dol Mountain of Mt. Seoraksan Sogongwon area.  It is believed to have been built by the 23rd King of the Goryeo Period (918~1392), Gojong (1213~1259 reign).  It is also called Gwon-Kim Castle, as there is a legend that two generals named Gwon and Kim, built the castle to avoid war.
At the left side of Sogongwon, past the Biryonggyo Bridge over the ravine, there is a path which leads to Gwongeumseong Castle, but it takes over an hour of travel through a steep, rocky path (2.5km), so cable cars are used.  The cable car was installed by Dr. Gi-Sup Lee in 1971 and is still used by many tourists.  It is operated from 7 a.m. to 6 or 6:30 p.m., departs every 7 minutes, and you can only purchase round-trip tickets at the ticket counter for that day.  At the plateau of Gwongeumseong Castle there are 80 sections of rocks and you can see the East Sea and city of Sokcho.  Also, to the west, you can see all kinds of fantastic rocks and stones which make up the Seoraksan Mountains. 

Sokcho Beach

You can see Sokcho Beach (450m long, 45-80m wide, average depth 1m) after about a 500m walk from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal.  The scenery of its clear water, white sand and the pine forest is beautiful, and the nearby bus terminal makes transportation very convenient.  It is also close to Seorak Mountain, and many hikers come by here as they go through Daecheongbong to Seorak-dong from inner Seorak area.  The white sand is 2km long, extending through Cheongho-dong, Joyang-dong, and Daepo-dong. The area open to the public is 0.45 Km long, 75m wide, making it about 9,000 pyeong, and more and more people come to visit because of the superb quality of the sand.

Sokcho beach plays an important role in displaying Sokcho-si as a great tourist area along with Seorak Mountain, Cheoksan Hot Springs, Cheongchoho, and Yeongrangho etc.  On the bulwark, to the left of the beach, there are many places where you can enjoy hwaleo hoe (fresh sashimi).  You can also enjoy sea fishing by taking a boat to Jo Island in the open-sea by the beach.

Biryong Falls

The falling water of the loud and magnificent Biryong Fall looks very much like dragons flying up towards the sky, which is why it was named Biryong (flying dragon) Fall.
There is a relatively wide path leading to Biryong Waterfall, through a bamboo forest, making it a very nice place to hike.  From Biryonggyo Bridge, which is located in the lower reaches of Cheonbuldong Valley, called Ssangcheon, walk past it for about 30 minutes to the left, and you will see the Yukdam Falls, made up of 6 waterfalls and a deep pond. 300 m past this area (about a 20 minute walk), you can see the Biryong Falls between the narrow and rugged ravine.  
Also, if you follow the Towanggol, up a steep, rocky path, there is a huge, 3-tiered waterfall called Towangseong Falls, but due to the extremely dangerous path leading to it, it is barred to the public.

Sinheungsa Temple (Mt. Seoraksan)

Sinheungsa is located 10 minutes walking distance from Sogongwon ticket counter, and many people visit because of its proximity to Sogongwon.  Sinheungsa is a temple which used to be called Hyangseongsa, built by Jajangyulsa (590~658), who traveled to famous mountains all over the nation, in Queen Jindeok’s (?~654) 6th year of reign.  It was wrecked and rebuilt many times since.
On the path to Sinheungsa, there is a great bronze statue called Bronze Jwabul Statue, which is well over 10 meters high.  Past the statue, which is on a granite terrace, to the right, there is a bridge called Hyeonsugyo, which was newly built for crossing the ravine.  Past the bridge there is a long stone wall with a Cheongwang door, and you can enter the temple.  At the entrance there are four Cheonwang (king) statues (Jiguk Cheonwang with a sword, Damun Cheonwang with a lute, Gwangmok Cheonwang with a tower, and Jeungjang Cheonwang with a dragon), placed on both sides.  The Buddhist statues at Sinheungsa were placed here during the founding days of Seongjeongsa, and includes the statues Mireukbosal, Gwaneumbosal, Seji, etc. which were sculpted by Uisang Daesa.  The buildings which were built during that time are still standing, like the sanctuary, main temple, Myeongbujeon, Bojaeru, and Chilseonggak, etc.  There is also an important cultural property, Treasure No. 443, called Hyangseongsaji, a three-story stone tower.
You can reach the Ulsan boulder by following the wall outside Sinheungsa.  Sinheungsa is an ancient temple with deep historical significance, and many tourists come because of its beautiful scenery.

Cheonbuldong Valley

Cheonbuldong Valley is the main Valley of Seorak Mountain and is also called Seorak Valley.  It was named Cheonbuldong because the many peaks on either side look like a lineup of a thousand Buddhist statues.  It is also called Cheonbuldong because the peaks also look like Buddhist saints offering food sacrifices to Buddha. If you follow the waterway of Waseondae for about 300m, you’ll arrive at Biseondae.  Travel 12 km further from here and you will arrive at Daecheongbong.  There’s also Biseondae Munjudam, Ihodam, and the steep Guimyeonam.  On the opposite side, an hour’s walk past Chilseongbong, attached to Hwachaebong, is Chilseonggol’s forked road from which you can reach Oryeon Falls, Yangpok, Cheondang Falls and other valleys with exceptionally beautiful sceneries.  The path used to be rough and difficult, but because of new facilities and a mountain villa, you can more easily climb and see the scenery of Cheonbuldong.  Many people who go hiking at Seorak Mountain seek this place out because of the convenient transportation provided by Seorak-dong’s Sogongwon, which becomes the starting point for many mountain climbers, and there is an endless line of hikers and tourists who come to visit during mid October when the autumnal leaves start turning color.

Ulsanbawi Rock

Ulsanbawi is composed of 6 granite peaks, with a girth of 4Km.  You can see the awesome scenery of Seorak Mountain, East Sea, Dalma Peak, and Haksapyeong Reservoir from the top of Ulsanbawi.  There are three differing views on the name of Ulsanbawi: that it looks like a fence, that its name was copied from Ulsan of Gyeongsangnam-do, and that the Korean term of “crying mountain” was transliterated into Chinese characters.  Because of the way the whole mountain reverberates the sound of thunder in rain, it is also called Cheonhusan.  
It is about 4Km to the top, which takes about 2 hours, and when you pass by Sinheungsa and take the wide path for 10 minutes, there is a bridge leading to a lone path.  On the right, past the bridge is Anyangam.  25 minutes past that spot is the Naewonam, and from this resting area, it takes another 10 minutes (about 300m) to get to Gyejoam.  In Gyejoam, which is under a large and round rock, there is a large boulder, which can be rocked back and forth by a single person.  Gyejoam is a small Buddhist temple built from natural stone cave, and you can look up at the view of Ulsanbawi when you stand in front of the rocking boulder.  If you take the steep path, about 500 m past Gyejoam, you can finally reach Ulsanbawi, reputed to be the largest single rock in the Orient.  It is 950m high with cliffs on all sides, and there is a 808-step metal bridge which allows anyone to easily reach the summit.

Seorak Sunrise Park

This park has become well known for its incredible scenery of the sunrise from the East Sea. Seorak Sunrise Park stretches over 20,952㎡ with beautiful coastal vistas. Views of the sun rising between the pine trees are especially famous.  
Seorak Sunrise Park has long been called 'naemulchi,' which dates back to the Josoen Dynasty (1392-1919). The scholar named Song Si-yeol stopped off this area on his way to Geojedo Island for an exile and named the area 'naemulchi' as a village was sunk under water by heavy rain.
Inside the park are Jamboree Memorial Tower, an outdoor theater, a tourist information center, and many great places to take a walk  along the seashore. Additionally, there are around 30 pieces of sculpture lining the  view the of ocean for all to enjoy.

Daepohang Port

Located on the southern most point of Sokcho are the many raw fish restaurants and dried fish shops of Daepohang Port. This bustling port has become one of the most popular tourist spots for those in search of the freshest raw fish restaurants.  
At Daepohang Port it is said that the Seorak Mountains and the East Sea are gifts from nature. The port is filled with raw fish restaurants and a live fish market containing eel, flatfish, flounder, yellowtail, and plethora of other high-end seafood.   Furthermore, the abundance of local dishes that can be found lining the streets includes ojingeo sundae and Gamja Songpyeon. For raw fish lovers that are in the Sokcho area, Daepohang Port is the place to be.
Nearby tourist attractions include Seorak Sunrise Park and Tourism Submarine. These are all great places to stop by while visiting the Seoraksan Mountains.

Cheongchoho Lake

Cheongchoho Lake is a lagoon that is connected to the East Sea, with a depth of 1.3 Km2 and an approximate circumference of 5 Km.  Located in the center of the city, the lake can be viewed easily from downtown Sokcho. Adjacent to Cheongchoho Lake, one of Sokcho’s 8 must-sees, is the Expo Tower, Expo World, and Expo Excursion Steamer.  These were constructed for the 1999 Gangwon International Tourism Expo.  The Expo tower rises 73.4 meters high with an observatory.  An I-MAX theater is located in Expo World and an Ecology Park is nearby.   Additionally, the Expo Excursion Steamer can be taken around the entire lake for great views of the surrounding area. 

Yeongnangho Lake

Yeongnangho Lake is actually a naturally formed lagoon with a depth of 1.21 Km2 and a circumference of 7.8 Km.  The name ‘Yeongnangho’ originated in Silla Period (57 BC – AD 935), when a young man named Hwarang and his friend Yeongnang were returning from the Geumgansan Mountains and they encountered a lake.  Awestruck at the beauty of the lake they named it after Yeongnang.  
Nearby Yeongnangho Lake is a resort with a golf course and canoe rentals, as well as many pedestrian pathways that joggers enjoy in morning.  When visiting the lake, one must be sure to stop by the Beombawi Rock; 'Beom' means tiger in English.  This rock takes on the form of a tiger.  Many visitors climb this rock to enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding area.  

Seorak Park Hotel Casino

Seorak Park Hotel is surrounded by mountains, sea, lake and other natural beauties, and is equipped with 18 Ondol (traditional Korean heating system) beds, 64 Twins, 12 Triple and Deluxe Twin rooms, 9 Suites and others for a total of 121 rooms. The Seorak Park Hotel Casino is an international level casino, 167 pyeong (1 pyeong = 3.3 square meters) in size, and has games such as Baccarat, Black Jack, Craps, Roulette, Big Wheel, as well as slot machines.  It is for foreigners only.

Seorak Plaza Country Club

Seorak Plaza Country club, as one of the resort facilities of the Hanhwa Resort is one of the best golf clubs in Korea, and it prides over its spectacular scenery. Also, situated in the vicinity of one of Korea’s most famed tourist sites, Mt. Seoraksan, it enables customers to look over Mt. Seoraksan’s unexplored landscapes and to look over the Eastern Sea during the games. The whole 18 hole course has an interesting design, and it can seem easy and difficult at the same time.

With the warm climate of an island, it is the most adequate golf club to enjoy golfing throughout the year. It includes Korea’s one and only sauna that provides 100% pure natural mineral water, and also has a unique food court selling local specialities.

Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory

The Sockcho Lighthouse Observatory provides fantastic views of the nearby Seoraksan Mountains, East Sea and Sokcho area.  The most breathtaking views are the ocean vistas.  

The white lighthouse has a romantic atmosphere to it.  Inside the lighthouse, binoculars are available to view distant points of interest.  This area is also famous its sunrise.