A must-eat food tour course 

[Sokcho]

 Sokcho Tourism and Fisheries Market is by far the most visited tourist destination in Sokcho. Over 19 million people visited in 2022 alone. It actually has become one of the most popular tourist attractions in Gangwon-do, as well as one of the top five nationwide. This market features a canopy that allows people to shop even on rainy days; it also has a large parking lot equipped with an automatic payment system; the fresh seafood products have very good price tags; and the list of attractive qualities goes on. But the best benefit of this market is its delicious foods, which you can find at every corner.
  

 The freshest thing available in Sokcho Tourism and Fisheries Market is definitely fish. From dried fish to live fish and salted fish sauce, the seafood products here are by far the best as they are made of the fish just caught in the nearby sea. Make sure to buy salted white pollack and cook your own pollack aglio e olio, pollack soft tofu stew, or avocado pollack. Looking for snacks to enjoy at home? Agupo (dried monkfish) is a perfect choice. Or try the chips made of dried seaweed, or other various ingredients such as eggplants, pumpkins, lotus roots, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms. Cabbage pancakes, buckwheat pancakes, sweet sorghum bukumi, and chewy potato pancakes, and other special cuisines of the Gyeongsang-do region are all available here. When you are thirsty while looking around the market, a bottle of sweet pumpkin and rice juice called sikhye will help you quench your thirst. Feel like having a sweet dessert? Try Sokcho sand, rice cake, makgeolli liquor bread, or honeycomb ice cream.         
 

[Sokcho]

Address: 4, Jungangsijang-ro 6-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State 
Operating hours: Varies by shop
Closed: Varies by shop
* Takes 5 minutes on foot from Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal. Takes 15 minutes on foot from Sokcho Express Bus Terminal. Takes 2 minutes on foot from the Tourism and Fisheries Market city bus stop. 
        
 

Dakgangjeong  
It’s no wonder that Dakgangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken) was first made here in Gangwon-do, where many poultry farms are located. The advantage of this crispy fried chicken mixed with spicy sweet sauce and nuts is that it becomes more delicious as it cools down.  
 

Raw Fish Center
Want to try fresh raw fish at the Sokcho Tourism and Fisheries Market? Go down to the basement 1, where you will be greeted by the fish swimming in tanks. It is best to order assorted raw fish and enjoy them with various side dishes and spicy fish stew at the end of the course.
 

Fried Dish
Do you hear something sizzling that smells like savory oil? Then it means you are at the entrance to the aisle lined with restaurants serving fried foods. Take a full bite of the hot fried king shrimp to appreciate the thrilling happiness in every single cell of your body. Nobody can resist the temptation of fried squid, red crab, baby crab, seaweed roll, sesame leaf, and sweet potato.
      
 

【Places to Visit】

Abai Village (tidal boat)
 Abai Village came into being during the Korean War when refugees from Hamgyeong-do, who followed the South Korean military, settled in the town near the beach close to the truce line. Sundae (Korean sausage), pollack sashimi salad, and Hamheung naengmyeon (cold noodle), made in their hometown style, became very popular and they are now on the must-eat list among tourists who come to Sokcho. When Sokcho Port was first open, a 92 meter-wide waterway was created between the inner and outer ports. The Seorak Geumgang Bridge connects them but it is more fun to cross the canal by non-powered vessel. Just pay one 500 won coin and then you can help move the boat by pulling the iron cord connected to the boat with a hook.
Address: 122, Cheongho-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State 
Inquiries: +82-33-633-3171
Operating hours: Summer 05:00-23:00 / Winter 05:30-22:30
Closed: N/A (open all year round) 

Sokcho Eye
 Almost all amusement parks have Ferris wheels, but the Sokcho Eye might be the only one that allows you to have a beautiful view of the sea from the observation wheel. Thanks to this feature, it has become one of the hottest places on Instagram just a year after it was first open. Thirty-six cabins, each carrying up to six people, climb to the height of the 22nd floor of an apartment building. As it goes up and down, you can look down on Sokcho sea, downtown, and even Seoraksan Mountain in the distance from a dizzy height. On-line reservation is available but except for the 11:00 entry, all reservations are for the all-inclusive Angelus Wish Theme Park package. If you only want to ride the Sokcho Eye, then you’ll need to purchase a ticket on-site.      
Address: 186, Haeoreum-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State 
Inquiries: +82-32-632-0090
Operating hours: Sunday-Friday 10:00-20:00 / Saturday 10:00-21:00
Closed: N/A (open all year round)

Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion  
 Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion was named after geomungo, a traditional musical instrument in Korea as the waves hitting the rocks create the sound like the string instrument. Originally it referred to the rock, but now the pavilion built on the rock is also called Yeonggeumjeong. Local residents made donations to build a bridge, Dongmyeong Bridge, to reach the pavilion. Walking on the bridge over the open East Sea, you may feel that you have become an immortal being, floating in the air. In the morning, the sunrise over the East Sea will greet you. The mesmerizing view of the sea at dawn, cool seascape during the day, and the calm waves under moonlight all have different and unique charms. From Yeonggeumjeong Pavilion, turn left and go straight up along the road to reach the famous Sokcho Pojangmacha Street lined with food tents and snack carts.   
Address: 43, Yeonggeumjeong-ro, Sokcho-si, Gangwon State 
Inquiries: +82 -33-639-2690
Operating hours: Open 24 hr
Closed: N/A (open all year round)