Chuseok Full Moon in Sokcho (속초) Will Be Hard to See on

Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). As of 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, the first day of the Chuseok holiday, the temperature in Sokcho (속초) is 25°C and the sky is cloudy. Today's high is 27°C, the low is 20°C, and the chance of precipitation is 60%. Many of you may have come to Sokcho over the holiday to see the full moon, but according to the Korea Meteorological Administration's outlook, the full moon will be hard to see on the night of the 25th, Chuseok day. Today we look at why, and then sum up when and where it would be best to see the moon.

Sokcho Weather Right Now: Cloudy, but No Rain Yet

It is cloudy across the country today. There was thick fog in the western inland areas this morning, and rain is forecast from late tonight for the northern East Coast and mountain areas of Gangwon (강원), where Sokcho is located. A 60% chance of precipitation does not mean it will keep raining throughout the day; it is closer to meaning that rain is likely from tonight.

Afternoon: Cloudy, but outdoor plans are no problem. The temperature can rise to 27°C, so short sleeves are enough.
Evening onward: The low drops to 20°C, and rain may start at night. If you plan to walk along the beach at night, bring a jacket and a small umbrella.
Daily temperature range: Across the country, the difference between day and night temperatures is around 10 degrees. If you will be outdoors for a long time at night, such as visiting ancestral graves or camping, you will need long clothes.

Why the Full Moon Will Be Hard to See on Hangawi Night

According to the Gangwon Regional Meteorological Administration's outlook, rain will fall on the Gangwon East Coast and mountain areas from early morning to morning on the 25th, Chuseok day. This is typical easterly-wind weather, in which moist wind crossing the sea from the east is blocked by the Taebaek Mountains (태백산맥), forming rain clouds only over the Yeongdong (영동) region. This is also why autumn often brings days when Seoul (서울) is clear but only Sokcho gets rain.

The problem comes after that. It will turn cloudy again from the afternoon of the 25th, and rain is forecast for the entire central region from late at night into the early morning of the 26th. That is why the Korea Meteorological Administration said the full moon will be hard to see this Hangawi. Sokcho will have rain clouds pass over once in the morning and again at night, so the clouds are likely to be thick even in the early evening when the moon rises.

That said, even with a cloudy forecast, the moon sometimes shines briefly through gaps in the clouds. It is worth checking out the window once on the evening of the 25th, but we do not recommend going all the way to the beach just to see the moon.

The Moon Is Fullest at 1:49 a.m. on the 27th

Many people think the moon is fullest on the night of Chuseok day, but that is not the case this year. The 'full moon' (망), the astronomical moment when the moon becomes completely full, is at 1:49 a.m. on Sunday, September 27. On the calendar it is early Sunday morning, but in practice it is late at night after staying up through Saturday night, the 26th.

Friday, the 25th (Chuseok): Moonrise is at 5:34 p.m. based on Seoul. Sokcho is east of Seoul, so the moon rises a few minutes earlier. However, rain clouds will make it hard to see.
Saturday, the 26th: Rain in the central region is expected to continue until early morning, so the clouds may clear at night. This is the most realistic day for moon viewing this year.
Around 1:49 a.m. on Sunday, the 27th: This is when the fullest moon is in the sky. At this time the moon is tilted toward the western sky, so you need to look toward Seoraksan (설악산), not toward the sea.

Forecasts differ slightly on when the rain on the 26th will stop. We recommend checking the Korea Meteorological Administration's neighborhood forecast on Saturday afternoon to see whether Sokcho's nighttime sky condition has changed to 'Mostly Cloudy' or better before heading out.

If You're Aiming for the Moon Between the Clouds: Places Open to the East, but Avoid Today's Crowded Spots

The moon rises from the eastern horizon, so in Sokcho, places directly facing the sea are good. The moon must not be blocked by mountains or buildings for you to see it close to the calculated time.

영금정 (Yeonggeumjeong) area: From the pavilion over the sea and the lighthouse observatory, the horizon is visible without obstruction. However, if it has just rained, the breakwater rocks will be slippery, so go only as far as the pavilion.
Sokcho Beach (속초해변) sands: It is the closest to downtown, with easy parking and restroom access. It is the easiest choice for going late with family.
Cheongchoho Lake (청초호) and Yeongnangho Lake (영랑호) lakeshores: Once the moon has risen a little higher, you can see the moon reflected in the lake. When the moon is in the west, as in the early morning of the 27th, the view toward the Seorak ridgeline beyond the lake is better.

For reference, as of 1 p.m. today, 설악해맞이공원 (Seorak Haemaji Park) is 'Very Crowded'. As its name suggests, it is open to the east, but it is likely to be crowded throughout the holiday. If you go to see the moon, after 9 p.m., when the crowds thin out a little, is better.

A Rainy Holiday: Today's Crowded Spots and Alternatives

The places currently 'Very Crowded' in Sokcho are 설악해맞이공원, 테디베어팜 (Teddy Bear Farm), 테라크랩팜 (Terra Crab Farm), 발해역사관 (Balhae History Museum), and the accommodations 더케이설악산 가족호텔 (The-K Seoraksan Family Hotel) and 현대수콘도미니엄 (Hyundai Soo Condominium). The fact that indoor attractions such as 테디베어팜, 테라크랩팜, and 발해역사관 are all crowded at once appears to be because people are heading indoors early due to the cloudy weather and rain forecast. If it rains tomorrow morning, these places are likely to be even more crowded.

Visit indoor attractions this afternoon or after the day after tomorrow: On the morning of the 25th, when it rains, everyone will head indoors. Afternoons like today, before the rain, may actually be less crowded.
Today is effectively the last shopping day at traditional markets: Sokcho City has designated September 14 to 27 as a traditional market promotion period, and during the holiday from the 24th to the 27th, on-site staff will be stationed at 관광수산시장 (Gwangwang Susan Market) and other markets for crowd control, patrols, and price checks. Some shops may close on Chuseok day, so it is safer to buy food for ancestral rites or dried seafood for gifts this afternoon.
Bring gift certificates: Many places accept 온누리상품권 (Onnuri gift certificates) and 속초사랑상품권 (Sokcho Sarang gift certificates). Check for the affiliated-store sticker at the shop entrance.

속초어때's real-time congestion levels change frequently, so we recommend checking once more right before you set out.

The Sea: Low Waves, but Swell Warning Through the 25th

The sea off Sokcho today looks calm, with a water temperature of 23.5°C and wave height of 0.4 m. However, the Korea Meteorological Administration has advised caution for swells on the Gangwon East Coast through the 25th. Swells are long waves formed far out at sea, so even when the water looks calm, a large wave can suddenly wash over rocky shores or breakwaters.

Sokcho Beach has already closed for the season, so there are no lifeguards. Even though the water is warm, please refrain from going in.
Going out onto tetrapods or to the end of a breakwater to photograph the full moon is especially dangerous. Swells are hard to see at night.
If you are with children, stay only on the sand where the waves do not reach.

Getting Around: Smooth Roads In, Slow Downtown

As of 1 p.m., 미시령로 (Misiryeong-ro) toward Seoul is flowing smoothly, while 동해대로 (Donghae-daero), which connects the coast and downtown, and 설악산로 (Seoraksan-ro) toward Seorak are slow. Moving around downtown after arriving is more congested than the roads into Sokcho.

Downtown parking: During the holiday, Sokcho City is opening 263 spaces at City Hall and 4 nearby parking lots. Parking here and walking may be faster than circling around 관광수산시장 or the beach looking for a spot.
Driving in the rain: Rain is forecast from tonight through the morning of the 25th, and again from the night of the 25th into the early morning of the 26th. Slow down on the downhill stretches before and after Misiryeong Tunnel and on the coastal section of National Route 7.
Timing your return: Traffic is likely to build from the afternoon of the 26th through the 27th, after the rain stops. If your schedule is flexible, consider leaving early in the morning on the 27th.

In a Nutshell

This afternoon (the 24th) is cloudy but fine for activities, with a chance of rain from tonight.
On Chuseok (the 25th), rain in the early morning and morning, and thick clouds at night, will make the full moon hard to see.
The most realistic time for the full moon is Saturday night, the 26th, to around 1:49 a.m. on the 27th.
There is a swell warning through the 25th, so do not climb onto breakwaters or rocky shores at the sea at night.

Today we looked at Sokcho's weather over the Chuseok holiday and the times and places to see the full moon. Did you find it helpful? The holiday overlaps with rain, but if you wait just one more day, you may be able to see this year's fullest moon in the Sokcho sky. We'll be back next time with even more useful information.