Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae).
It is midnight on Saturday, September 19. Yesterday afternoon, judges came in person to the ferris wheel standing in front of Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장), the one usually called '속초아이 (Sokcho Eye)'. The appeals court panel hearing the dispute over whether to demolish it or leave it in place carried out an on-site inspection. Judging only by the news headlines, it might seem about to disappear, but if you are coming to Sokcho (속초) this weekend, what you probably want to know most is 'So can I ride it now?' To give you the conclusion first: yes, you can ride it now. We have laid out, in order, why it is still running during the trial, when a decision is expected, and how best to ride it with today's rain forecast.
Why judges came to Sokcho Beach at 2 p.m. yesterday
Administrative Division 1 of the Chuncheon Bench of the Seoul High Court spent about 1 hour 30 minutes from 2 p.m. on September 18 looking around the ferris wheel and the surrounding Sokcho Beach area, closed to the public. This trial is the appeal in a lawsuit filed by the ferris wheel operator against Sokcho City, seeking to cancel the city's revocation of its development activity permit. The inspection is a procedure to see with their own eyes what is hard to judge from documents alone, for example how far the structures actually extend and what fills the inside of the buildings.
The issues on which Sokcho City and the operator clashed at the site are reported to fall into four main points.
- Temporary building permit: Was it right to permit a facility equipped even with high-voltage electrical installations as a 'temporary building'?
- Encroachment on public waters: Sokcho City's claim that some facilities, including the boarding building, were installed encroaching on public waters along the shore
- Use requirements: The criticism that cultural and assembly facilities must make up at least half of the total use, but in reality customer-attracting facilities such as cafés take up a larger share
- Safety issues: The fact that it is near a beach with a risk of flooding
The operator's side rebutted these claims one by one and argued that keeping the wheel is justified. From the operator's standpoint, the core argument is that it received permits from Sokcho City and ran the business accordingly.
Why a 9.2 billion KRW ferris wheel was ordered demolished
The ferris wheel was built through private investment at a total cost of 9.2 billion KRW and opened in March 2022. It is about 65 m tall, and each cabin holds up to 6 people. Right after opening, it changed the night view of Sokcho Beach and became, quite literally, a landmark.
The problem was the process of selecting the operator. An audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection revealed that Sokcho City violated its own public tender guidelines, changed the evaluation method in favor of a particular company, and scored bids in a way different from the guidelines. This also led to a police investigation. Sokcho City then issued a total of 11 administrative measures in June 2024, including revoking the permit, ordering dismantling, and ordering restoration to the original state, and the operator filed a lawsuit contesting them.
In the first trial, the Gangneung Branch of the Chuncheon District Court ruled in favor of Sokcho City on January 21, 2026, finding that there were serious flaws in the project's procedure. Many people find this part confusing: what went wrong was the administrative procedure for selecting the operator, and because the permit built on that procedure has been shaken, the ferris wheel itself became subject to demolition. This is also why the operator says it has been treated unfairly.
So why is it still turning?
The reason the ferris wheel keeps running despite the demolition ruling is a 'stay of execution'. Right after the 2024 measures, the operator's request for a stay of execution was granted and operation continued, and after losing the first trial, a stay of execution was again granted in February 2026, so it can operate until the appeals court issues its ruling. Put simply, it does not have to stop until a final conclusion is reached.
The next date is the third hearing on October 28. A ruling will not come out that day; it is a session to hear both sides' arguments once more, so the conclusion will come after that. Even once the appeal is decided, the case may still go to the Supreme Court, so it seems unlikely the ferris wheel will disappear this fall. However, the situation could change quickly depending on what happens to the stay of execution after the ruling, so if you are planning a trip for the end of the year or later, we recommend checking whether it is operating before you set off.
If you plan to ride today: check the rain forecast first
As of midnight, Sokcho is at 21 degrees with a few clouds, but the chance of rain is 81%. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration's outlook, easterly winds are expected to bring rain in some places on the east coast of Gangwon (강원) until the morning, gradually clearing afterwards. The high is 23 degrees and the low 20 degrees, so the temperature range is small.
- Aim for the afternoon or later. On rainy days, raindrops form on the cabin windows and the view toward the sea is hazy. If you ride after the rain stops, you can see much more clearly all the way to the ridges of Seoraksan (설악산) and toward Cheongchoho Lake (청초호).
- Operation may be suspended depending on the weather. A ferris wheel is more sensitive to wind than to rain. Today's waves are 1 m, so it is not very rough, but operation may be adjusted based on on-site judgment, so check at the ticket office first.
- Operating hours: Listed as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, and until 9 p.m. on Saturdays and public holidays. One rotation takes about 15 minutes.
- Fares: 12,000 KRW for adults, 6,000 KRW for children under 7, and 9,000 KRW for groups of 20 or more. A 50% discount for Sokcho residents is listed, so residents should bring their ID.
The area is busy, so plan your route like this
According to 속초어때's real-time data, places along the routes around the ferris wheel are quite busy right now. Cheongchoho Lake and Oeongchi Port (외옹치항) are 'Congested', while Lighthouse Beach (등대해변), 속초관광수산시장 (Sokcho Gwangwang Susan Sijang), and Daepo Port (대포항) are 'Moderate'. On the other hand, all three access roads, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로), and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로), are 'Smooth'. Conditions may change on Saturday afternoon, so if you are coming from the direction of Seoul (서울), arriving in the morning is to your advantage.
- Ferris wheel → Oeongchi Badahyanggi-ro (외옹치 바다향기로): A coastal walking trail runs from the southern end of Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi Port. It is a nice route to walk after the rain stops, but since Oeongchi Port is congested, it is better to park on the beach side and walk.
- Ferris wheel → Cheongchoho Lake: After sunset, from the top of the ferris wheel you can take in the lights around Cheongchoho Lake and Expo Tower (엑스포타워) at a glance. If the night view is your goal, we recommend riding around sunset.
- Please refrain from going into the sea. Sokcho Beach already closed for the season last month, and lifeguards are no longer on duty. The water temperature is still warm at 23.2 degrees, but it is safer to enjoy it by just dipping your feet.
What Sokcho residents should know
For tourists, the ferris wheel issue is a question of 'Can I ride it?', but for residents it is a question of trust in the city administration and how the beachfront space is used. If it stays, Sokcho Beach keeps its signature attraction, but how to deal with the procedural wrongdoing remains a task; if it is demolished, new questions arise about what will fill the site and how the demolition costs and the dispute with the operator will be settled.
Coincidentally, this week Sokcho has seen a string of news that could change the shape of the city, such as the lifting of height restrictions in Yeongnang-dong (영랑동) and Jangsa-dong (장사동), and a proposal for a new shuttle bus exclusively for foreign tourists connecting Yangyang Airport (양양공항) and Sokcho. The fate of the 65 m structure in front of the beach is also something to watch as part of that trend. When news comes out after the October 28 hearing, 속초어때 will sum it up for you again.
At a glance
- September 18, 2 p.m.: the appeals court panel carried out an on-site inspection lasting about 1 hour 30 minutes
- Issues: temporary building permit, encroachment on public waters, use requirements, flood safety
- First trial (January 21, 2026) won by Sokcho City, but thanks to a stay of execution it can operate until the appeal ruling
- Next hearing on October 28
- 81% chance of rain today, possible rain until the morning, afternoon ride recommended
- 12,000 KRW for adults, 50% discount listed for Sokcho residents
Today we looked at why the Sokcho ferris wheel, which underwent the court's on-site inspection yesterday, is still turning, and how best to ride it this weekend. Did you find it helpful? We will be back next time with even more useful information.
