Granite Peaks and Harbor Heritage: Exploring Seoraksan National Park & Sokcho Abai Village (설악산 & 속초 아바이마을)
Following our heritage journey through the noble clan houses of Andong Hahoe Folk Village, today’s morning guide heads northeast to Gangwon Province, where the jagged granite ridges of the Taebaek Mountain Range plunge dramatically toward the East Sea: Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원) and the harbor settlement of Sokcho Abai Village (속초 아바이마을).
Revered as one of Korea's most sacred and visually striking mountain ranges, Seoraksan is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for colossal granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and autumn foliage. Just 20 minutes from the park entrance lies the coastal port city of Sokcho, home to a unique post-war enclave founded by North Korean refugees from Hamgyong Province during the Korean War. Here, alpine hiking seamlessly transitions into coastal food culture and authentic regional traditions.
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Highlights of Seoraksan National Park & Sokcho
- Gwongeumseong Fortress Cable Car (권금성 케이블카): For panoramic high-altitude views without an arduous hike, board the Seoraksan Cable Car near the main entrance. In just 5 minutes, you are transported to an elevation of 700 meters. A 10-minute walk from the upper station brings you to Gwongeumseong, an ancient ruined fortress perched atop a sheer granite cliff with sweeping views of Ulsanbawi and the East Sea.
- Sinheungsa Temple & Great Unification Buddha (신흥사 & 통일대불): Dating back to 652 AD under Silla monk Jajang, this historic sanctuary greets visitors with the Bronze Great Unification Buddha (Tongil Daebul), an imposing 14.6-meter statue cast to express hopes for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.
- Ulsanbawi Rock Trail (울산바위): For active hikers, the 3.8-kilometer route to Ulsanbawi leads to a massive crown of six granite peaks soaring 873 meters above sea level. The final ascent climbs a steep steel stairway clinging to the rock face, rewarding trekkers with unmatched vistas across the outer Seorak valleys.
- Abai Village & the Gaetbae Ferry (아바이마을 & 갯배): In Cheongho-dong, North Korean refugees settled on a narrow sandbar during the 1950s. Visitors can ride the historic Gaetbae, a human-powered wooden raft pulled across the harbor waterway using handheld metal wire hooks.
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What to Eat & Drink: Mountain Herbs & North Korean Specialties
1. Squid Sundae & Abai Sundae (Ojingeo Sundae & Abai Sundae): Fresh squid stuffed with minced vegetables, tofu, and squid meat, sliced into rounds, coated in egg wash, and pan-fried golden. Hamgyong-style Abai Sundae is packed generously with sticky rice and vegetables (Abai Village Alleyways).
2. Buckwheat Noodles with Raw Pollock (Myeongtae Hoe Naengmyeon): Springy Hamhung-style potato-starch noodles tossed in a spicy-sweet sauce, topped with chewy seasoned dried pollock fillet (myeongtae-hoe).
3. Sokcho Sweet Crispy Chicken (Sokcho Dakgangjeong): Crispy, double-fried boneless chicken bites glazed in a sweet, sticky, and mildly spicy garlic-syrup sauce topped with crushed pumpkin seeds (Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market).
4. Mountain Wild Herb Bibimbap (Sanchae Bibimbap): Seasonal wild roots, bracken, bellflower root, and perilla oil gathered from the mountain valleys, served with warm rice and soybean paste stew (Eateries outside Seoraksan Entrance).
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Essential Visitor Tips
- Early Cable Car Tickets: Tickets for the Gwongeumseong Cable Car are sold strictly on-site on a first-come, first-served basis for same-day departures. Arrive at the ticket window by 08:30 AM to 09:00 AM on weekends and autumn peak seasons to avoid long waits.
- Gaetbae Ferry Experience: The Gaetbae crossing between downtown Sokcho and Abai Village costs just 500 KRW each way in cash. Passengers are welcome to take hold of the wire hooks and help pull the raft across the channel.
- Getting There from Seoul: Express buses depart frequently from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu/Honam) or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal directly to Sokcho Intercity / Express Bus Terminal (approx. 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes). From Sokcho, local city bus No. 7 or 7-1 takes you directly to the entrance of Seoraksan National Park in 25 minutes.
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Visitor Information
- Addresses:
* Seoraksan National Park (Sogongwon Entrance): 1055 Seoraksan-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원특별자치도 속초시 설악산로 1055)
* Abai Village: 122 Cheongho-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원특별자치도 속초시 청호로 122)
- Nearest Transit: Sokcho Express Bus Terminal (25 minutes by local bus No. 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan; 10 minutes walk/taxi to Abai Village).
- Operating Hours:
* Seoraksan National Park: Hiking trails open from sunrise (around 04:00 AM) to sunset.
* Seoraksan Cable Car: Daily 09:00 – 17:00 (Hours adjust according to wind and weather conditions).
* Abai Village Eateries: Typically 09:30 – 20:30.
- Admission:
* Seoraksan National Park & Sinheungsa: Free admission.
* Cable Car (Round-trip): 15,000 KRW for adults / 11,000 KRW for children.
* Gaetbae Ferry (One-way): 500 KRW for adults / 300 KRW for children.
Following our heritage journey through the noble clan houses of Andong Hahoe Folk Village, today’s morning guide heads northeast to Gangwon Province, where the jagged granite ridges of the Taebaek Mountain Range plunge dramatically toward the East Sea: Seoraksan National Park (설악산국립공원) and the harbor settlement of Sokcho Abai Village (속초 아바이마을).
Revered as one of Korea's most sacred and visually striking mountain ranges, Seoraksan is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve renowned for colossal granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and autumn foliage. Just 20 minutes from the park entrance lies the coastal port city of Sokcho, home to a unique post-war enclave founded by North Korean refugees from Hamgyong Province during the Korean War. Here, alpine hiking seamlessly transitions into coastal food culture and authentic regional traditions.
---
Highlights of Seoraksan National Park & Sokcho
- Gwongeumseong Fortress Cable Car (권금성 케이블카): For panoramic high-altitude views without an arduous hike, board the Seoraksan Cable Car near the main entrance. In just 5 minutes, you are transported to an elevation of 700 meters. A 10-minute walk from the upper station brings you to Gwongeumseong, an ancient ruined fortress perched atop a sheer granite cliff with sweeping views of Ulsanbawi and the East Sea.
- Sinheungsa Temple & Great Unification Buddha (신흥사 & 통일대불): Dating back to 652 AD under Silla monk Jajang, this historic sanctuary greets visitors with the Bronze Great Unification Buddha (Tongil Daebul), an imposing 14.6-meter statue cast to express hopes for the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.
- Ulsanbawi Rock Trail (울산바위): For active hikers, the 3.8-kilometer route to Ulsanbawi leads to a massive crown of six granite peaks soaring 873 meters above sea level. The final ascent climbs a steep steel stairway clinging to the rock face, rewarding trekkers with unmatched vistas across the outer Seorak valleys.
- Abai Village & the Gaetbae Ferry (아바이마을 & 갯배): In Cheongho-dong, North Korean refugees settled on a narrow sandbar during the 1950s. Visitors can ride the historic Gaetbae, a human-powered wooden raft pulled across the harbor waterway using handheld metal wire hooks.
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What to Eat & Drink: Mountain Herbs & North Korean Specialties
1. Squid Sundae & Abai Sundae (Ojingeo Sundae & Abai Sundae): Fresh squid stuffed with minced vegetables, tofu, and squid meat, sliced into rounds, coated in egg wash, and pan-fried golden. Hamgyong-style Abai Sundae is packed generously with sticky rice and vegetables (Abai Village Alleyways).
2. Buckwheat Noodles with Raw Pollock (Myeongtae Hoe Naengmyeon): Springy Hamhung-style potato-starch noodles tossed in a spicy-sweet sauce, topped with chewy seasoned dried pollock fillet (myeongtae-hoe).
3. Sokcho Sweet Crispy Chicken (Sokcho Dakgangjeong): Crispy, double-fried boneless chicken bites glazed in a sweet, sticky, and mildly spicy garlic-syrup sauce topped with crushed pumpkin seeds (Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market).
4. Mountain Wild Herb Bibimbap (Sanchae Bibimbap): Seasonal wild roots, bracken, bellflower root, and perilla oil gathered from the mountain valleys, served with warm rice and soybean paste stew (Eateries outside Seoraksan Entrance).
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Essential Visitor Tips
- Early Cable Car Tickets: Tickets for the Gwongeumseong Cable Car are sold strictly on-site on a first-come, first-served basis for same-day departures. Arrive at the ticket window by 08:30 AM to 09:00 AM on weekends and autumn peak seasons to avoid long waits.
- Gaetbae Ferry Experience: The Gaetbae crossing between downtown Sokcho and Abai Village costs just 500 KRW each way in cash. Passengers are welcome to take hold of the wire hooks and help pull the raft across the channel.
- Getting There from Seoul: Express buses depart frequently from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gyeongbu/Honam) or Dong Seoul Bus Terminal directly to Sokcho Intercity / Express Bus Terminal (approx. 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes). From Sokcho, local city bus No. 7 or 7-1 takes you directly to the entrance of Seoraksan National Park in 25 minutes.
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Visitor Information
- Addresses:
* Seoraksan National Park (Sogongwon Entrance): 1055 Seoraksan-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원특별자치도 속초시 설악산로 1055)
* Abai Village: 122 Cheongho-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do (강원특별자치도 속초시 청호로 122)
- Nearest Transit: Sokcho Express Bus Terminal (25 minutes by local bus No. 7 or 7-1 to Seoraksan; 10 minutes walk/taxi to Abai Village).
- Operating Hours:
* Seoraksan National Park: Hiking trails open from sunrise (around 04:00 AM) to sunset.
* Seoraksan Cable Car: Daily 09:00 – 17:00 (Hours adjust according to wind and weather conditions).
* Abai Village Eateries: Typically 09:30 – 20:30.
- Admission:
* Seoraksan National Park & Sinheungsa: Free admission.
* Cable Car (Round-trip): 15,000 KRW for adults / 11,000 KRW for children.
* Gaetbae Ferry (One-way): 500 KRW for adults / 300 KRW for children.
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