Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). It is 4 a.m. on Sunday, August 23, and right now Sokcho (속초) is 24°C with a few clouds. Open the window and the wind comes in lukewarm — exactly the dawn air of summer's tail end. Today is a slightly special day for Sokcho residents and travelers alike. Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장) and three other beaches in the city close as of today. Waterbomb wrapped up last night, and at 6 p.m. today the time you can legally set foot in Sokcho's sea this summer also ends. Here is exactly how much time is left, and how this sea changes starting tomorrow, as of 4 a.m.
Sokcho today: from 24°C to 26°C, a rise of just 2 degrees
Today's forecast is a low of 24°C and a high of 26°C. The temperature swings only 2 degrees all day long. Considering this is a city that was under a heat wave advisory at 31°C in the afternoon just five days ago, it feels as though the season has moved up a notch. On top of that, the chance of rain is 100%, yet right now the sky has only a few clouds. Those of you who have been through this combination all summer will know: it does not mean it will pour all day, it is closer to meaning "at some point it will definitely come once." Rain in the Yeongdong (영동) region often passes as a short, heavy shower.
Practically speaking, it comes down to this. If you are heading to the beach today, a folding umbrella or a thin rain poncho is better than a large umbrella. And importantly, on closing day the parasols on the sand are often already being taken down in the afternoon. In past years you could duck under a parasol when a shower came, but this afternoon overlaps with the hours when that shade disappears one by one. It is worth factoring in ahead of time that if the rain comes down, there are fewer places to take shelter than you would think.
Sokcho, Deungdae, Oeongchi, Cheongho — today is the last day
The beaches Sokcho City operated this summer were four — Sokcho Beach, Deungdae Beach (등대해수욕장), Oeongchi Beach (외옹치해수욕장) and Cheongho Beach (청호해수욕장) — and the operating period runs through today, August 23. Sokcho's sea was crowded enough this summer that a tally showed more than 450,000 visitors within a month of opening, and that summer comes to a full stop this evening.
Let me be precise about the swimming hours first. Night opening already ended on August 12, so the time you can go into the water today runs until 6 p.m. Counting from the 9 a.m. opening, that is effectively nine hours; as of the 4 a.m. hour in which you are reading this, Sokcho's sea closes for this summer in about 14 hours. Sunrise today is at 05:47 and sunset at 19:09. That means you need to be out of the water about an hour before the sun goes down, so do not take it easy until evening and miss the last swim.
Water temperature 25.1°C, wave height 0.3 m — conditions on the final day are on the good side
Right now the water temperature off Sokcho is 25.1°C and the wave height is 0.3 m. A wave height of 0.3 m counts as practically calm. Compared with last week, when wind and rain pushed the waves past 2 m, that is lucky for a final day. That said, the water temperature is a figure that climbed to 26.9°C in early August and has now come back down to 25.1°C. The moment you go in it is cool and pleasant, but it is the kind of temperature where your shoulders turn chilly after about 30 minutes. If you are with children, it is better to break the water time into short stretches and dry them off in between.
Let's check the tides as well. Today Sokcho is on 3-mul, with high tide at 10:34 and low tide at 19:14. Unlike the West Sea, the East Sea (동해) has a tidal range of around 20 cm, so the tide never keeps you out of the water. Instead, the width of the sand narrows noticeably around the morning high tide, so if you are claiming a spot in the morning it is safer to put your things a little farther up. What you really need to watch on the East Sea is not the tide but rip currents and swells. Even on days with low waves, a current that suddenly pushes you outward can form, so at least today — the last day with lifeguards on watch — I recommend staying inside the buoys.
6 things that change from tomorrow
Some people misunderstand the word "closing" to mean "the sea disappears," but precisely, it means a managed sea turns into an unmanaged sea. From tomorrow, Monday, August 24, these things change.
- The water safety lifeguards withdraw. Even if an accident happens, there is no one stationed on the sand to rescue you immediately. This is the biggest change.
- Shower rooms, changing rooms and restrooms shut down or are drastically reduced. Even if you go into the water, there is no proper place to wash up afterward.
- Parasol and tube rentals end. If you do not bring your own shade, there is no shade.
- The buoys and the markers for the swimming zone are removed. There is no longer any way to see with your own eyes where the safety line is.
- The summer-only temporary parking lots and traffic controls are returned to normal. The spot you always parked in may not be there tomorrow.
- Beach maintenance work begins. Heavy equipment levels the sand and clears away facilities, so you should walk around those areas.
So from tomorrow, Sokcho's sea changes character from a "sea you go into" to a "sea you look at and walk along." If you insist on getting your feet wet, a life jacket is essential, only up to below the knee, and never alone. This is a matter of statistics before it is a matter of rules. One of the periods with the most drowning accidents at beaches every year is precisely right after closing.
4 p.m. on Sunday is today's real crunch
Right now all three approach roads into Sokcho — Misiryeong-ro toward Seoul, the coastal and downtown stretches of Donghae-daero, and Seoraksan-ro toward Seorak (설악) — are showing congestion. The crowds who came to see Waterbomb yesterday, day-trippers who do not want to miss closing day, and Sunday return traffic all overlap in a single day. Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. is likely to be this summer's last bottleneck.
If you are planning to leave Sokcho, you have two options. One is to set off before 2 p.m. and cross Misiryeong before the jam forms; the other is to push it back entirely to after 8 p.m. and move only after taking in dinner and the sea at night. Setting off at an awkward 4 p.m. costs you the most. Conversely, if you are coming into Sokcho today, the morning is the answer. If you set out before dawn and have breakfast in Sokcho, you start the day having gained half of it without traffic.
Indoor attractions are already saturated — a detour route for a rainy closing day
On the 속초어때 congestion index, six places are all showing as very congested right now: 금호리조트 설악 (Kumho Resort Seorak), 동명항 (Dongmyeong Port), 속초등대전망대 (Sokcho Lighthouse Observatory), Sokcho Beach, 학사평 콩꽃마을 순두부촌 (Haksapyeong Kongkkotmaeul Sundubu Village) and 한화리조트 설악 워터피아 (Hanwha Resort Seorak Waterpia). Making the rounds of these six as they are, on a closing day with rain in the forecast, means filling your day with standing in line. Try twisting it like this.
- Make 순두부촌 your breakfast. Between 8 and 9 a.m. there is almost no wait. Arriving at noon for lunch is the worst choice.
- 영금정 (Yeonggeumjeong) instead of the lighthouse observatory. Go early in the morning as the sun rises and you can take in the sea and the rocks with no one around.
- 청호동 아바이마을 (Cheongho-dong Abai Village) instead of 동명항. Crossing over on the 갯배 (gaetbae hand-pulled ferry) for a plate of 오징어순대 (ojingeo sundae, squid sausage) is a course that actually suits a rainy day.
- For 워터피아, book in advance instead of buying at the gate. Closing day is a day when demand for indoor water play piles up.
For residents, today is "the day before getting the sea back"
For those of you who live in Sokcho, today probably carries a slightly different meaning. From tomorrow the sand goes quiet again, and on early-morning walks you will meet more seagulls than people. September's sea in Sokcho is also the best time for walking, with the water temperature still remaining around 24°C. Deungdae Beach and the 외옹치 바다향기로 (Oeongchi Badahyanggi-ro) seaside trail, which you could not even attempt all summer because of parking, will be easy to visit on a weekday morning starting next week.
If you are a traveler, today is the opposite — it is the deadline. Go into the water once before 6 p.m., even briefly. It is the last chance to get into Sokcho's sea this summer. Wave height 0.3 m, water temperature 25.1°C — the conditions are not bad.
Today we looked at the weather and sea conditions in Sokcho on August 23, closing day, along with the last swimming hours and what changes from tomorrow — was it useful? We will be back next time with even more useful information.
