Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Enigma]

This is my first Chuseok in Korea, and because I've heard that it's a zoo everywhere, I'd planned to just stay in Daejeon for the 3 days. However, last night my director told us that because all the elementary schools are closed on Friday, we will also close, meaning I've got an unexpected 4 day weekend.
This will be my only chance to get up to Gangwondo in the foreseeable future, so I'm wondering if I can just show up in Sokcho Friday afternoon and have a chance of finding a reasonably priced hotel. Or am I dreaming? And if Sokcho isn't a good idea, is there any area of the country that isn't overrun with tourists during Chuseok?
Thanks

[cazzy3]

being that it's a mostly family orientated holiday where people often spend the night at family's homes, getting a hotel in sokcho shouldn't be a problem. upper scale ones like the Kensington and Seorak Park Hotel are both at the entrance and cost up to 200,000 a night. those will likely be busy.

staying in or around Expo park is a good bet as there are plenty of love motels that will only be around 50,000 a night and the buses run very often up to the mountain. i believe the bus number is 9-1.

you can also spend the day at the park (cruise around on a mini-bike) or go to the nearby beaches.

It may be a little busy, but if you come in on a friday, getting a hotel shouldn't be a problem.

[PBRstreetgang21]

Last Chusok when I was living in Incheon I went to Seokcho for the holiday. I had ZERO problem finding accomodation. Just stayed in Love Hotels and Minbaks. Seoraksan was a little more crowded than I was expecting but ultimatley wasnt that bad and was definetly worth the trip. The beaches out there are some of the best in Korea (just my personal opinion as a floridian) and not nearly as crowded as a lot of other in the country.

Definetly go, its a great place to take a load off.

But the traffic back will be hell. Probably not as bad as the traffic back to Incheon/Seoul (left at 6pm and arrived at 1AM).

Good Luck

[Tobias]

Do it up for sure. Finding a hotel shouldn't be a problem in Sokcho. You can even head north one town and land in GeoJin if you can't find anything in Sok.

Be sure to have a way back all lined up before going on this trip, or your vacation will be 4 + 1 days.

Chusok. Three days for Chusok. I know I won't be going far unless I'm driving.

[bangbayed]

Nowadays a lot of people either don't do the big family thing, or do a very brief one. More people are taking advantage of the vacation time to do some sightseeing. You probably will be able to find a room, but there will definitely be other sightseers around.

[Enigma]

Okay, it sounds like it should be okay. Thanks for all the advice.

[saw6436]

Beware. I did exactly the same trip around 3 years ago. Driving to Sorak-San and Soekcho was no problem and actually a great drive. Coming back was pure hell. From Soekcho to Daejeon was 14 1/2 hours. Lots of people were just parking on the side of the road and sleeping but I'm a stubborn bastard.

Great place to go and had a great time there. Never again during a holiday.

[bangbayed]

[sigmund]

Yeah the hell is going to be in the transportation; hotels/motels should be relatively empty. I have heard rumors that this Chosuk will be quieter than some of the others because it falls mostly on the weekend and many Koreans will just stay home. So maybe just stuck in traffic for 8 hours instead of 14!