Hello, this is Sokcho Eottae. As of 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 19, Sokcho (속초) is 22°C with a few clouds and an 89% chance of rain. Sokcho Port, Dongmyeong Port (동명항), Cheongchoho Lake (청초호), the Abai Village (아바이마을) gaetbae ferry, and 관광수산시장 (Gwangwang Susan Sijang) are all 'very crowded,' and traffic is congested on Misiryeong-ro (미시령로) and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로). Both the weather and the traffic are poor this morning, but the event most worth planning around in Sokcho today is in the evening. The first screening of 'Cine Table,' where you watch films under Seorak Bridge (설악대교) while eating Abai Village food, takes place tonight at 6 p.m.
Online registration closed at 8 a.m. this morning. Many of you may think "it's already too late," but the organizer, the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation, has said that on-site registration will also be accepted on the day. However, food is first come, first served, so what time you arrive matters. In today's post, we lay out the timeline and what to bring so that your trip isn't wasted.
What Is Cine Table?
Cine Table is one of the 'APPETIZER' pre-events of the Sokcho International Food Film Festival (SIFFF), which will be held this winter. As the name suggests, it is a taste before the main festival: you watch short films about food and eat food that goes well with those films.
- Date and time: Saturday, September 19, 6 p.m.
- Venue: Around 아트플랫폼 갯배 (Art Platform Gaetbae) under Seorak Bridge (near the Abai Village gaetbae ferry dock)
- Films: 「Pyongyang Raengmyeon」 by director Yoon Ju-hoon, 「Jessi Iyagi」 by director Lee Ha-eun
- Food: Prepared by '아사모' (Asamo), a group of people who love Abai Village; first 100 people
- Additional program: Conversation with the directors after the screening
- Admission: Free
Both films center on food. 「Pyongyang Raengmyeon」 is the story of an elderly chef who makes Pyongyang naengmyeon for his younger brother, and 「Jessi Iyagi」 is the story of two people who grow closer through baekseolgi (white rice cake) made at an old mill. Watching films about North Korean food right in front of Abai Village, where displaced people from the North settled, while eating food prepared by the village's own residents, shows that a lot of thought went into choosing the venue.
Tonight's Schedule: 5:30 Is the Key Time
This event runs in stages, so it's good to know the order before you go.
- 5:30 p.m. – Distribution of food exchange wristbands begins (first 100 people)
- 6:00 p.m. – Food exchange with wristbands begins
- 6:20 p.m. – Deadline for pre-registered attendees to pick up entry wristbands
- 6:30 p.m. – Film screening, followed by a conversation with the directors
The time to watch here is 6:20. If pre-registered attendees have not picked up their wristbands by then, their seats are likely to go to people waiting on-site. Conversely, if you're registering on-site, expect seats to open up around this time. If you also want food, it's safest to arrive before wristband distribution starts at 5:30. 100 spots fill up faster than you think. The Abai Village gaetbae ferry was already 'very crowded' at 10 a.m. this morning, so expect sizable crowds in the area in the evening as well.
For reference, the first 50 pre-registered attendees receive a separate tableware set. On-site registrants are not eligible, so it's best not to expect it.
Will the Morning Rain Affect the Evening Event?
Since it's an outdoor screening, the weather is the biggest concern. With an 89% chance of rain as of 10 a.m., you may be worried, but according to the forecast, some parts of the Gangwon east coast and mountain areas will see rain until around noon, with expected rainfall of less than 5mm on the east coast. That's so little it's barely worth an umbrella, and it is expected to stop in the afternoon.
Still, for an outdoor evening event, there are a few things you should bring.
- A light jacket: Today's low is 19°C. After sunset, it feels even cooler under Seorak Bridge with the sea breeze. Sunset is around 6:30 p.m., so the films start right as the sun goes down.
- A cushion or small towel: The ground or seats may be wet from the morning rain.
- Mosquito repellent: There are still mosquitoes by the water on September evenings.
- Turn off phone notifications: Even outdoors, sounds during the screening carry quite a bit.
Sea conditions are ordinary, with a water temperature of 23°C and waves of 1m, so walking around the venue is no problem.
If You're Driving, Don't Leave Late
Today, the access roads Misiryeong-ro (toward Seoul) and Seoraksan-ro (toward Seorak) are congested, and Donghae-daero (동해대로) (coast and downtown) is slow. It's the weekend before the Chuseok holiday (September 24–27), so conditions are unlikely to improve until late afternoon. The area around 아트플랫폼 갯배 is close to Cheongchoho Lake, Sokcho Port, and 관광수산시장, and all three have been 'very crowded' since this morning.
- Coming from outside Sokcho: We recommend arriving in downtown Sokcho around 4 p.m. and parking first. If you're looking for parking near Seorak Bridge after 5, it's easy to miss the wristband distribution.
- Staying downtown: Walking or taking a taxi is the least stressful option. If you're staying near Sokcho Port or Cheongchoho Lake, it's easily within walking distance.
- Combining it with a gaetbae ride: The venue is close to the dock, so a natural route is to ride the gaetbae first, look around Abai Village, and then join the event. However, the line for the gaetbae can be long during the day, so allow plenty of time.
How to Spend the Afternoon Before the Event
There's time to fill before the evening event, but it's raining in the morning and the major tourist spots are crowded. What Sokcho Eottae recommends is spending the afternoon close to the venue.
- 2 p.m., Min Jun-gyu photo exhibition in Yeongnang-dong (영랑동): Photographer Min Jun-gyu's exhibition capturing Sokcho's waterside scenery is running (17th–22nd), and a meet-the-artist session is scheduled for 2 p.m. today. It's a good indoor option right after the rain stops.
- 3–4 p.m., shopping at 관광수산시장: It's a busy time, but the market is close to the venue, so the route is short. It's also a good idea to buy some snacks in advance in case you don't get a food wristband.
- 5 p.m., arrive at the venue: Get in line before wristband distribution at 5:30.
If you're bringing children, the films are short and the stories are not difficult, so it's not much of a burden. However, if you stay for the conversation with the directors, it may end fairly late, so plan your trip home in advance.
If You Miss Today, There Are More Chances
Today is the 'first' Cine Table screening. According to the organizer, screenings will continue at a Sokcho beach in October and at another venue in November. From October to December, there will also be a 'Mise-en Chef' program where participants cook dishes with Sokcho ingredients alongside a chef, inspired by the films.
The schedule and registration details for upcoming screenings will be posted on the official Instagram of the Sokcho International Food Film Festival (@foodfilmfest_sifff) and the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation website. Registration often closes on the morning of the event, as it did this time, so if you're interested, it's a good idea to follow them in advance.
Summary at a Glance
- Tonight at 6 p.m., first Cine Table screening around 아트플랫폼 갯배 under Seorak Bridge (free)
- Online registration closed at 8 a.m. today; on-site registration available
- Food wristbands distributed at 5:30, first 100 people
- Film screening and conversation with the directors at 6:30
- Rain under 5mm until around noon; the evening low is 19°C, so a jacket is a must
- Misiryeong-ro and Seoraksan-ro are congested and the area around the venue is very crowded, so arriving around 4 p.m. is recommended
Today we looked at how to enjoy the first Cine Table screening under Seorak Bridge through on-site registration. We hope you found it helpful! On a Saturday evening in Sokcho after the rain, wrapping up the day with Abai Village food and a film could be a nice choice. We'll be back next time with even more useful information.
