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Start
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Sogongwon
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Seorak Mountain
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Sinhungsa
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Heundeulbawi
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Ulsanbawi
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Sunrise Park
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Naksansa-1
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Naksansa-2
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Naksansa-3
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Baked Fish
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Jungang Market
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Tourist Hotel
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Gaetbae(ferry) Quay
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Abai Village
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Sindasin Restaurant
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Lighthouse Observatory
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ports
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Beach
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Cheongchoho Lake
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Finish
Starting Trip
I feel like summer was yesterday but now I see around, the red leaves were already gone and trees were showing empty branches and twigs. I began to be surprised by cold breeze in the early morning and evening but this season is the best time of the year to travel because it is not too cold or too hot.
So today, I decided to show you the place where Seorak Mountain, a must-visit place for school trip for every student having beautiful scenaries in four seasons, is located as well as various food and east sea of cool waves not so far from Mt. Seorak. That is Sokcho in Gangwon-do.
Sokcho located nearby Unification Observatory at the northernmost of Gangwon-do used to be quite far from Seoul but the roads have been paved these days so you can get there in 2-3 hours. However, there are two types of bus, non-stop bus and express bus that would take 1 more hour than non-stop bus since it stops at Hongcheon and Wontong so you might want to check it out before you make a reservation.
Two hours since the bus left Goyang Bus Terminal. Our bus stopped at a small rest area that made us feel like we're in Gangwon-do already. Unlike the rest areas near Seoul, this one reminded me of 8-90s and it looked friendly.
Inje-gun is heart of Gangwon-do. Inside the rest area, the various snacks and special foods in Gangwon-do, steamy potato cake and corns, were seducing me.
I happened to look at the mountain next to the rest area carelessly and a small field was already covered with frost. It's been so long since the last time I saw it since I live in a big city but I was chilly at the same time.
After our stop at the rest area, the bus ran 40 minutes more and finally arrived at our destination, Sokcho-si, where the east sea waves are surging. Now it's time for us to stretch ourselves and travel Sokcho. Let's go!!
FYI, Intercity Bus Terminal is quite far away from Express Bus Terminal in Sokcho. Normally, non-stop intercity bus terminal is located in the downtown near Dongmyeong Port and express bus coming from Dongseoul Bus Terminal stops at the southernmost place in Sokcho-si. The difference is less than an hour but if you're planning to go to Mt. Seorak, keep that in mind that express bus would save you 20-30 minutes.
Seorak National Park Information Center
On the main street in downtown, take the bus number 7 or 7-1 then you'll get to Seorak area surrounded by enormous mountains in 30 minutes.
I've been told that Ak(악) in the name of mountain indicates it's famous and rugged. As the highest mountain next to Halla and Jiri Mountains, it is also famous and rugged.
We hear the news every year that the winter comes to Mt. Seorak first that it snows around Chusok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). And the snow melts when the summer comes and that's how it's named.
By the time the foggy yet pointed mountaintops come closer and resorts appear on the mountain, 「Seorak National Park Information Center」 showed up.
There would be nobody who doesn't know Mt. Seorak but it was so long ago since my last visit so we decided to get information first as always like it's our first time.
As the first national park certified by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), it built the information center in 2006 in order to commemorate its certification and to introduce Mt. Seorak in detail.
This does not simply provide information about Seorak Mountain but it also helps us understand ecology of animals and plants on Mount Seorak in separate Video Room • Electronic Visitor's Book • Game Corner so that they help us have memorable activities.
We followed along the traces of bears from the entrance to the lobby and it was sad that there were not many people even if it was not so early hour. Then I realized people usually drop by this place on their way down.
I understand it because the traffic at the entrance gets heavy even in a few minutes but I think I need to look around here to get to know the mountain because the more you know, the more you see.
You can find guide books next to the information desk for famous tourist attractions in Gangwon-do as well as the ones in Sokcho so if you finished climbing earlier than expected, you could sit here and plan for the trip to other places. You'll see so many famous places in Yangyang, Gangreung and Goseong, all of which are not far from here.
As we first entered the building we saw a professional guide sitting at the desk but while we took around, the guide disappeared. My gosh~this probably is a flaw in traveling during the off-seasons. I made noises with the miniature of Heundeulbawi (Rock) on the desk but nobody showed up…
I wished I could've heard explanations from the guide but there was no other way. We started to take a look around the exhibition that look like caves while we appreciated the fact that we were not swept along by the crowd on weekends.
Inside the exhibition room, one side of wall showed the origin, history and the way the mountain was created with beautiful views of places on Seorak Mountain.
Most enchanting one was miniature model of Mt. Seorak in the middle. You could see Mount Seorak from four Si and Gun.
Although it is just a model, can you notice the difference between this mountain and other mountains in Korea? The mountaintops of Seorak are characterized by its pointed look.
At the back, they introduce animals and plants living in Seorak National Park where you can meet different insects and animals.
The plant with name that we haven't heard of, patrinia saniculaefolia hemsl, you might see this on the mountain if you get lucky.
The plants are attractive enough but the traces of animals attracted my attention more because nature is so well preserved on the mountain such that animals you can't normally see are living in the wild.
In front of the goat excreta that look like some fruit and the models of animals living on the mountains, each animal's footprint stamp is prepared to stimulate kids' interests.
Among many animals, the one representing Gangwon-do is Asiatic black bear so you'll find its models and sculptures at different places in Gangwon-do.
The biggest advantage of this place is that not only it provides information about Mt. Seorak, it also allows us to enjoy activities. In the photo zone equipped with blue chromakey screen, you can photoshop your picture with beautiful photos of Mt. Seorak as background.
This would be good experience for small children who cannot climb high. However, chromakey studio charges you some amount of money, not free.
Since we couldn't find the guide, we couldn't take photos with chromakey screen so we chose to leave something here! In the corner of visitors' book, there was a small photo booth. Be careful because the holes are so small since it's for kids.
Wherever you see this face of Asiatic black bear, it would be Mt. Seorak. We dropped by the center when I was half asleep after the shooting, but after a brief study, I felt like I was ready to climb.
So if you're planning to go to Seorak Mountain, I bet you will get information briefly about the mountain before you start to climb up and you will enjoy the mountain to the fullest.
Address : 16, San, Seorak-dong, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do
Telephone : 033-636-7700
Operating Hours : 10:00 – 17:00 (Closed on every Monday)
Admission Fees : Free
