Korean Job Discussion Forums

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

I just came back from a few days in Sokcho, East coast of Korea.

Highly recommend and it wasn't crowded but with good beaches and an amazing back drop of mountains. Lots to see and do, adventure or laid back. Plenty of hotels for all pocketbooks. It had a different feel about it - quite clean and "looked after".

I wrote about what we did on my blog with pics. http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/2010/07/25/what-about-your-summer-vacation/

All in all a very easy 2 hours + getaway from Seoul.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Sokcho deserves all the good press it gets. Nice writeup.

There are several hotspring spas well worth visiting too.

If you spot a grizzled old guy by the entrance to Sokcho Beach enjoying a Max, thats probably me. Stop & say hello, I'll buy you a beer & help steer you to anything you'd like.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

I really didn't picture you looking like that.

But that area is really nice. I prefer namsan beach over seokcho beach however

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

schwa,

I might be back there soon and will look for you. Just read that Kayne West will be on Namsan beach...Aug 6/7. Might be a cool way to kill a weekend.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Louis VI · Joined: 05 Jul 2010 Location: In my Kingdom

Hwajinpo north of Sokcho is really nice, though Gyongpodae way south of there is also great. If the Gangwondo coast wasn't the most isolated coastal area in the country I'd have visited it more than a couple of times over the years.

tiger fancini · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes

Curiousity · Joined: 23 Jun 2008

Is a trip out that way next week completely insane? I'm imagining the place turning into Busan during this period.

I'm also keen to know whether those of you who live or have been there have any hints/tips on motels in the area and rough prices for peak season. I usually stay at love motels, so nothing fancy necessary!

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

The places has tons of hotels, I don't know how they make any money....

I stayed at a reg. love hotel by the ferry terminal the first night, end of the street with dried fish. 30,000 won , clean, regular.

I wouldn't worry too much about accommodation, especially if you stay in Sokcho and take the bus to the venue at Namsan Beach. (a 10-15 min bus ride).

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Sokcho Beach is decidedly busy these days & the weather (touch wood) has continued awesome.

Beaches around here come in two flavors: packed & semi-packed. Koreans seem to prefer being sandwiched in in their tents & thats kind of fun for people-watching. But even at Sokcho Beach you can stroll 10 minutes down the boardwalk away from the main action & find ample space.

Theres at least a dozen beaches within a half-hour's local bus ride. There are always calm spots at the edges. Swimming however is generally restricted to buoyed-off areas. Thats to save you from riptides (which do occur) & motorboats.

There are ample love motels in the vicinity of Sokcho Beach. They do ramp up their rates some in august. A small cluster of new ones 5 minutes walk from Emart are reasonable. There are also ajummas near the main beach flogging their minbaks, probably a convenient & budget-friendly alternative.

Traffic from Seoul might be heavy. Figure an extra hour over normal travel time, 3.5 hours vs 2.5. Scenic though.

ddeubel, its Naksan Beach. There is no Namsan Beach in this area. Naksan is a nice long beach 20 minutes south by city bus also featuring a visit-worthy Buddhist temple complex.