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Daepo Port & Oeongchi Port

Gangwon Bike Path

Sokcho City (속초시; map) is a small, popular tourist city on Korea’s east coast. Though its main harbor is Sokcho Port, two quaint tourist ports sit within a kilometer of each other on the city’s southern coastline:

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A high-angle view over Daepo Port, showcasing the semi-circular harbor, seafood restaurants, and the surrounding mountainous landscape from the Daepo Port Observatory.
A view over Daepo Port, with the semi-circular harbor, seafood restaurants, and surrounding mountains.
A close-up view of a crab sculpture made of red lights at Daepo Port, looking out over calm waters with lit restaurants and hotel in the background at night.
A crab lights at Daepo Port, looking out over calm waters with lit restaurants.
A section of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail features a barbed wire fence with intricate metal cutouts depicting scenes from history, overlooking the East Sea.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail features a barbed wire fence with metal cutouts.
The vibrant Daepo Port seafood center features colorful buildings adorned with a large crab sculpture, with fishing boats docked in front, creating a lively scene by the water.
The Daepo Port seafood center features buildings with a large crab sculpture.
A large boulder stands near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk, with the scenic Jodo Island and its recovering pine groves visible in the background.
A boulder stands near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk.
A fishing boat docked at Daepo Port proudly displays the South Korean flag, with a backdrop of local shops and seafood markets lining the bustling waterfront.
A fishing boat docked at Daepo Port proudly displays the South Korean flag.
Freshly caught fish hang to dry on racks at Daepo Port, showcasing a traditional preservation method against the backdrop of the vibrant waterfront shops.
Fish hang to dry on racks at Daepo Port, showcasing a traditional preservation method.
A panoramic view of Oeongchi Port featuring breakwaters, fishing boats, and the Lotte Resort perched on a forested hill overlooking the East Sea.
A view of Oeongchi Port featuring breakwaters, fishing boats, and the Lotte Resort.

Throughout the seasons, droves of tourists descended upon these small harbors, dining on their fresh seafood and touring its natural sights.

Let’s explore!

Daepo Port

Daepo Port (대포항; map) is a fishing and tourist port and one of the Eight Scenic Views of Sokcho. Resting on the city’s southern border, many Koreans also view the port as a gateway to the city. 

The port features two breakwaters protecting a semi-circle harbor. It rests at the foot of Seorak Mountain (설악산; map; Seoraksan), one of the nation’s most famed and visited mountains.

History

Daepo Port sign displayed prominently at the entrance gate along the waterfront promenade, welcoming visitors to this bustling fishing and tourist port.
Daepo Port sign displayed at the entrance gate along the waterfront promenade.
An enchanting nighttime scene at Daepo Port with its circular edge lined by brightly lit restaurants, set against the backdrop of low dark hills and placid waters.
A nighttime scene at Daepo Port lined by restaurants.
View of the red and white lighthouses positioned on the breakwaters at Daepo Port, standing as navigational landmarks on the East Sea coast.
The red and white lighthouses on the breakwaters at Daepo Port.
The waterfront of Daepo Port showcases a row of shops and seafood markets, set against a lush green hillside.
The waterfront of Daepo Port showcases a row of shops and seafood markets.
Seafood restaurants and eateries line the main road at Daepo Port.
Seafood restaurants and eateries line the main road at Daepo Port.
Seafood restaurants line Daepo Port, featuring vibrant signage and a large crab sculpture on the rooftop, with the backdrop of scenic mountains.
Seafood restaurants line Daepo Port, featuring a large crab sculpture.
A store at Daepo Port offering a variety of dried seafood products and local goods.
A store at Daepo Port offering a variety of dried seafood products and local goods.
A flock of gulls gathered on the pavement at Daepo Port, feeding on freshly caught fish as they cast long shadows in the afternoon sunlight.
A flock of gulls gathered on the pavement at Daepo Port.
Two cyclists resting and enjoying the view over the calm waters of Daepo Port at night, with the ambient light from brightly lit restaurants along the shore.
Two cyclists resting and enjoying the view over the calm waters of Daepo Port.
Fish are hung to dry on racks at Daepo Port, a traditional scene in Korean fishing culture, with the modern Cassia Sokcho Hotel visible in the background.
Fish hung to dry on racks at Daepo Port, a traditional scene in Korean fishing culture.

Around the time of the Japanese Occupation (1910 ~ 1945), Daepo Port was listed as a prominent port on maps of Korea’s east coast, along with Busan Port and Mukho Port.

In 1937, the area’s administrative offices moved from Daepo north to Sokcho Town, now Sokcho City’s downtown. As developers built out the area around Cheongcho Lake and Sokcho Port, Daepo lost its prominence and Sokcho Port emerged as the regional hub for cargo ships and fishing vessels.

Daepo Port waned in the decades after. However, life continued. Local fishers still ventured out from Daepo to the East Sea to catch flatfish, halibut, and yellowtail, then returned to port to feed the local markets and restaurants.

Tourism at Daepo Port

Live crabs and seafood are displayed in water tanks outside a restaurant at Daepo Port, attracting visitors with fresh offerings from the East Sea.
Crabs are displayed in water tanks outside a restaurant at Daepo Port.
A picturesque view of Daepo Port nestled along the coast with the majestic Seorak Mountain range providing a stunning backdrop, blending urban and natural beauty.
A view of Daepo Port nestled along the coast below the Seorak Mountain range.
A contrast of modern and traditional urban architecture, with local buildings in the foreground and the contemporary Cassia Sokcho Hotel towering above in the background.
Cassia Sokcho Hotel towering above Daepo Port.
A panoramic view of Daepo Port from the Daepo Skywalk, showcasing fishing boats, seafood markets, and vibrant shops along the waterfront.
A view of Daepo Port from the Daepo Skywalk, showcasing fishing boats and seafood markets.
A contemporary sculpture with outstretched arms stands in front of the Cassia Sokcho Hotel, blending modern art with the hotel's sleek architectural design at Daepo Port.
A sculpture with outstretched arms stands in front of the Cassia Sokcho Hotel at Daepo Port.
Scenic coastal view from Seorak Sunrise Park, capturing the red and white lighthouses of Daepo Port with waves breaking along the rocky shoreline and a backdrop of modern hotels.
A coastal view from Seorak Sunrise Park, capturing the red and white lighthouses of Daepo Port.
A bustling seafood market inside Daepo Port, filled with colorful signs, fresh seafood stalls, and local vendors catering to tourists and locals seeking authentic Korean seafood.
A seafood market inside Daepo Port, filled with colorful signs.
A wall of celebrity signatures displayed outside a well-known restaurant at Daepo Port, where visitors are drawn to the famed eatery and its seafood offerings.
A wall of celebrity signatures displayed outside a well-known restaurant at Daepo Port.
A row of seafood restaurants with colorful signage and crates outside, lined up along the pedestrian walkway near Daepo Port, creating a lively scene for tourists.
A row of seafood restaurants with colorful signage and crates in Daepo Port.
Patrons walking in front of a popular snow crab restaurant at Daepo Port at night, featuring a large snow crab sculpture above the entrance and tanks full of live crabs.
Patrons walking in front of a snow crab restaurant at Daepo Port.

As Korea’s domestic tourism industry developed, Daepo Port gained momentum as a tourist destination. Why? Location. Location.

  • It lies just south of downtown Sokcho.
  • It sits below Seorak Mountain and its nationally popular hiking trails.
  • It rests a few kilometers from the inland Cheoksan Hot Springs (척산온천지구; map).

More importantly, hordes of seafood buildings, serving sea meat caught daily by local fishers, line two parallel streets that wrap around the 500-meter road encompassing Daepo’s semi-circular harbor. In them, find eateries serving sashimi (hoe; 회), stores selling dried fish, and fish markets where early-morning fleets of returning fishing boats put their haul up for auction.

Daepo Port Observatory

A high-angle view over Daepo Port, showcasing the semi-circular harbor, seafood restaurants, and the surrounding mountainous landscape from the Daepo Port Observatory.
A view over Daepo Port, with the semi-circular harbor, seafood restaurants, and surrounding mountains.
A vibrant view of Daepo Port with seafood restaurants and shops along the waterfront, with the Daepo Port Observatory perched on the hillside above.
A view of Daepo Port with seafood restaurants and shops along the waterfront.
A crescent moon sculpture frames a panoramic view of Daepo Port from the observatory, offering a unique vantage of the harbor, coastline, and surrounding mountains.
A crescent moon sculpture frames a panoramic view of Daepo Port.
A blue directional sign points towards the Daepo Port Observatory, guiding visitors to the scenic lookout point near Sokcho’s famous fishing port.
A blue directional sign points towards the Daepo Port Observatory.
A shaded, forested path with wooden steps leads up to the Daepo Port Observatory, surrounded by dense greenery, offering visitors a scenic and tranquil walk.
A shaded, forested path with wooden steps leads up to the Daepo Port Observatory.
A sweeping view from Daepo Port Observatory captures the coastal landscape extending from Daepo Port to Seorak and Mulchi Ports, with the iconic lighthouses and fishing docks along the East Sea.
A view from Daepo Port Observatory captures the coastal landscape from Daepo Port to Seorak and Mulchi Ports.
The Daepo Port Observatory is nestled on a green hillside above Daepo Port, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area and coastline.
The Daepo Port Observatory is nestled on a green hillside above Daepo Port.
The observation deck at Daepo Port Observatory features a unique moon sculpture, providing visitors with a scenic spot to view the city and East Sea.
The observation deck at Daepo Port Observatory features a unique moon sculpture.

Walk along Daepo Port’s streets and eventually you’ll find a sign pointing to a hiking trail (road view; road view) that leads 200 meters (20 minutes) up a seaside hill to Daepo Port Observatory (대포항 전망대; map).

Completed in 2018, the observatory is made up of a single viewing deck with benches. It presents a breathtaking view of Daepo Port’s semi-circular form and tightly packed seafood restaurants.

Locals also claim that Daepo Port Observatory is one of the best places in Korea to catch the start and end of the day. From its decks, you can view:

  • The sunrise from the East Sea’s horizon,
  • And sunset over Seorak Mountain.

Daepo Skywalk

The Daepo Skywalk stretches across Daepo Port, featuring glass flooring sections and offering panoramic views of the bustling harbor, lighthouses, and coastal landscape.
The Daepo Skywalk stretches across Daepo Port.
The Daepo Skywalk, with its modern design and glass floor sections, spans over Daepo Port, providing views of the nearby luxury hotels and bustling waterfront below.
The Daepo Skywalk, with its glass floor sections, spans over Daepo Port.
Entrance stairs and elevator to the Daepo Skywalk, a pedestrian bridge and viewing platform over Daepo Port, offering scenic views and glass-floor sections above the water.
Stairs and elevator to the Daepo Skywalk, a pedestrian bridge over Daepo Port.
A view from beneath the Daepo Skywalk, highlighting docked fishing boats and the bustling Daepo Port waterfront with modern hotels in the background.
A view from Daepo Skywalk, highlighting docked fishing boats and the Daepo Port waterfront.

Another highlight of Daepo Port is the Daepo Skywalk (대포항 구름다리; map), a pedestrian bridge and viewing platform connecting both sides of the port.

The bridge features sections of reinforced glass flooring. Visitors can look directly down at the water below. The bridge is accessible by stairs and elevators. It offers stunning views of Daepo’s bustling port and its iconic red and white lighthouses.

At night, the Skywalk transforms into a picturesque scene, illuminated by the glowing seafood restaurants and the gentle harbor lights.

Oeongchi Port

Lotte Resort Sokcho, majestically perched on a hill above Oeongchi Port, with small restaurants at the water's edge, illuminated against the night sky.
Lotte Resort Sokcho, majestically perched on a hill above Oeongchi Port, with restaurants below.
A bustling scene at Oeongchi Port, showcasing seafood market stalls, fishing equipment, and a pier overlooking the calm waters of the East Sea.
A bustling scene at Oeongchi Port, showcasing seafood market stalls.
A panoramic view of Oeongchi Port featuring breakwaters, fishing boats, and the Lotte Resort perched on a forested hill overlooking the East Sea.
A view of Oeongchi Port featuring breakwaters, fishing boats, and the Lotte Resort.
A lone seagull rests on a moss-covered boulder near the tranquil waters of Oeongchi Port, surrounded by rugged coastal rocks and rippling waves.
A lone seagull rests on a moss-covered boulder near the tranquil waters of Oeongchi Port.
A stunning view of Oeongchi Port and its glimmering waters with the modern Cassia Sokcho Hotel standing tall in the background under a clear sky.
A view of Oeongchi Port and its glimmering waters with the modern Cassia Sokcho Hotel.

Five-hundred meters north of Daepo lies Oeongchi Port (외옹치항; map), a smaller, quieter, and less famous harbor. It offers some of the standard amenities of Korea’s east coast ports:

  • A dock where fishers park their boats after a long day of fishing the East Sea.
  • A plethora of seafood restaurants serving freshly caught fish.

But Oeongchi Port provides several unique attractions that make it a worthy of special attention:

  • It sits below a 40-meter seaside mountain where an imposing resort dwells.
  • It lies near two well-known beaches.
  • And it holds a hiking path that meanders around the seaside mountain, offering gorgeous views of waves and water-bound rocks.

Let’s learn about them.

Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail

A stunning view of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk along the coastline, with the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel and city skyline in the background.
A view of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk along the coastline.
Visitors enjoy the scenic views from the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk, overlooking rocky shores and the vibrant waves of the East Sea.
Visitors enjoy the scenic views from the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail wraps around a seaside mountain at Oeongchi Port, offering serene views of rugged rocks, calm waters, and lush greenery.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail wraps around a seaside mountain at Oeongchi Port.
Waves crash against rugged rocks along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk, with a stunning view of the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel and city skyline.
Waves crash against rugged rocks along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk.
A detailed metal cutout in a barbed wire fence along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail showcases transportation motifs, with the East Sea waves crashing below.
A metal cutout in a barbed wire fence along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail winds along the rugged coastline, offering a view of Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel and the city's skyline in the distance.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail winds along the rugged coastline.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk hugs a rocky cliff, offering views of the East Sea.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk hugs a rocky cliff, offering views of the East Sea.

The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail (바다향기로; map) is a 1.74-kilometer long hiking path that hugs the seaside mountain where the Lotte Resort stands, starting and ending at either Oeongchi Port and Oeongchi Beach.

First opened in 2018, the trail occupies a section of coastline once off limits to everyone except military personnel. Why?

Infiltration

In the late 1960s, over 120 armed North Korean guerilla fighters landed on the shores of Samcheok and Uljin. Wearing South Korean military uniforms and carrying simple weapons, they began attacking military installations in 1968 using Viet Cong tactics, even attempting an assault on the Blue House (Presidential Residence) in Seoul.

The largest attack since the Korean War’s armistice, the skirmishes lasted two months, killing 113 of North Korea’s infiltrators, and over 40 South Koreans, including civilians.

Immediately following the infiltration, South Korea setup military fortifications up and down South Korea’s east coast. They added barbed-wire topped fencing and strategic lookout posts.

Along with the Chogok Dragon Cave & Candlestick Rock Trail, Deokbong Mountain, the military restricted the area where Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail stands today because it held sensitive defensive infrastructure.

Features

A section of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail features a barbed wire fence with intricate metal cutouts depicting scenes from history, overlooking the East Sea.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail features a barbed wire fence with metal cutouts.
A large boulder stands near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk, with the scenic Jodo Island and its recovering pine groves visible in the background.
A boulder stands near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk.
Waves crash against the rocky shoreline near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, with Lotte Resort overlooking the scenic East Sea coastline.
Waves crash against the rocky shoreline near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk meanders along the rugged coastline, offering scenic views of the Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel and vibrant city skyline.
The Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk meanders along the rugged coastline.
Visitors stroll along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk, surrounded by rocky shores and with Lotte Resort overlooking the scenic East Sea coastline.
Visitors stroll along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail boardwalk.
The northern entrance to the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail features a boardwalk overlooking Oeongchi Beach, leading into a serene coastal hiking path.
The entrance to the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail overlooking Oeongchi Beach.

In the 2010s, the government opened the coastal area north of Oeongchi Port for development. Taking advantage of its picturesque views, Sokcho built the 1.74-kilometer long Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail to promote tourism around Oeongchi Port.

Free to all, the trail meanders along walking decks and dirt trails below the coastal mountain where Lotte Resort rises. Much of the route follows a flat course, making it accessible to visitors of all ages, with a round-trip journey taking between 40 minutes to 1 hour.

Designers broke the trail into two sections:

  • Sokcho Beach Section (850 meters), completed in 2017.
  • the Oeongchi Section (890 meters), completed in 2018.

Only the northern Sokcho Beach Section is open 24 hours a day. It starts from Oeongchi and provides views of the Sokcho Eye, a large Ferris wheel near Sokcho Beach, and the uninhabited Jodo Island just off the coast.

Oeongchi Section is open from 7:30 AM to 7 PM (9 AM to 5 PM in the winter). It offers the most variety in vistas. So designers further divided the Oeongchi Section into four themed segments:

  • The Security Experience Trail segment kept some of the military border fencing that once guarded the region.
  • The Rock Observation Trail segment passes uniquely shaped rocks. 
  • The Sky Deck Trail segment crawls along raised decks near a small forest of pine trees.
  • The Bamboo Meditation Trail segment crosses through bamboo groves.

Lotte Resort Sokcho

A directional sign pointing to Lotte Resort Sokcho stands against a clear sky, with the resort building visible in the background atop a coastal hill.
A \ sign pointing to Lotte Resort Sokcho stands against a clear sky.
A serene view of Sokcho Beach during sunset, with waves shimmering in the light and the Lotte Resort perched on a forested hill in the background.
A view of Sokcho Beach during sunset, with waves shimmering in the light and the Lotte Resort.
Lotte Resort Sokcho sits atop a seaside hill, offering panoramic views of Oeongchi Port below, surrounded by forested slopes and the East Sea coastline.
Lotte Resort Sokcho sits atop a seaside hill, offering views of Oeongchi Port.
An old military outpost painted in camouflage stands along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, with Lotte Resort visible in the background above the pine trees.
An old military outpost painted in camouflage stands along the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail.

Lotte Resort Sokcho (롯데리조트속초; map) sits on a 40-meter coastal hill overlooking Oeongchi Port to the south and Sokcho Beach to the north. Opened in 2017, it offers premium rooms with panoramic views of the East Sea, a water park, restaurants, and a boundless buffet.

Even if you’re not staying at Lotte Resort Sokcho, you can use its grounds as a shortcut from the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail back to your starting point. Look for staircases along the trail that lead up to the resort.

Sokcho Beach

A scenic display at Sokcho Beach featuring a sign spelling out "Jodo Island," with the island's lighthouse and rocky terrain visible in the background.
A display at Sokcho Beach featuring a sign spelling out "Jodo Island."
Wooden stairs leading toward the sea on Sokcho Beach with Jodo Island visible in the background. A tranquil scene with waves crashing on the sandy shore.
Wooden stairs leading toward the sea on Sokcho Beach with Jodo Island.
Visitors enjoy the sandy shores of Sokcho Beach, with colorful covered boats, the Sokcho Eye Ferris Wheel, and a modern performance stage creating a lively coastal scene.
Visitors enjoy the sandy shores of Sokcho Beach.
A view looking south along Sokcho Beach, with gentle waves, footprints in the sand, and a hazy silhouette of coastal buildings under the afternoon sun.
A view looking south along Sokcho Beach.
A panoramic view of Sokcho Beach with its sandy shore, Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel, and the modern city skyline in the distance under a clear blue sky.
A view of Sokcho Beach with its sandy shore and Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel.

Though famous as a tourist destination, Sokcho City isn’t very big. In fact, it only has one swimming beach: Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장; map). Lying 500 meters from the city’s intercity bus terminal, Sokcho Beach maintains a pristine appearance. Why? Well, it’s the only one the city needs to maintain.

Opened on July 1, 1976, Sokcho Beach stretches over 2 kilometers. A thick pine forest backs the beach’s fine sands, clear waters, and flower-lined walking paths.

Jodo Island

Jodo Island (조도; map) sits 1 kilometer off the shores of Sokcho Beach and measures about 200-meters wide. One of Eight Scenic Views of Sokcho, the uninhabited island literally translates to “Bird Island.” Each day, thousands of birds descend on the island’s distant pine trees and abandoned lighthouse.

Visible from the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, Jodo Island is also famous as it accents the scene when you watch the sun rise from the East Sea’s horizon.

Oeongchi Beach

Waves crash on the rocks near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, overlooking Oeongchi Beach, Sokcho Beach, and the iconic Sokcho Eye Ferris wheel in the distance.
Waves crash on the rocks near the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, overlooking Oeongchi Beach.
A decorative metal gate near the entrance of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail frames a scenic view of Sokcho Beach, with distant city buildings and the Ferris wheel.
A decorative metal gate near the entrance of the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail.
The white archway marks the entrance to Oeongchi Beach, a serene stretch of sand and surf along the East Sea, with nearby boardwalks and coastal views.
The archway marks the entrance to Oeongchi Beach.

Oeongchi Beach (외옹치해수욕장; map) rests at the southern end of Sokcho Beach, below the hill where Lotte Resort Sokcho perches. It keeps the northern entrance to Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail.

Like the Oeongchi Sea Fragrance Trail, the military once restricted access to Oeongchi Beach until they opened it to the public in 2005. A small beach, it boasts a length of 400 meters, but holds shallow waters for wading and swimming.

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