Hello, this is Sokcho Eottae. It's 4 a.m. on the last day of September, and Sokcho (속초) is clear at 19°C. The daytime high will reach 28°C, and the morning low is 18°C, so the temperature will vary by as much as 10 degrees today. The chance of rain is 35%, and the sun rises at 06:20. At sea, the water temperature is 22.7°C and waves are 0.7 m, so it's fairly calm.
This evening the Chrysanthemum Exhibition opens at Cheongchoho Lake (청초호), and two days from now the Seorak Cultural Festival (설악문화제) begins. While all these attractions arrive at once, one program is quietly taking applications. It's '화(火)목(木)한 인문학' (Hwamokhan Inmunhak), a public participation lecture series held by the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation (속초문화관광재단) together with the Sokcho Culture and Arts College (속초문화예술대학). As the name suggests, it runs on Tuesdays (화) and Thursdays (목), but you don't sign up for everything at once. Each field has a different application start date, and each class takes around 30 people. Today we'll walk you through how to apply without missing out.
'Hwamokhan Inmunhak' at a Glance
- Period: October 13 (Tue) – November 26 (Thu), 2026
- Sessions: Four fields (literature, art, music and philosophy), 3 sessions each, 12 sessions in total
- Time: Every Tuesday and Thursday, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.
- Venue: Lecture room at 국립속초등산학교 (Gungnip Sokcho Deungsan Hakgyo)
- Capacity: Around 30 people per lecture (field), first-come, first-served
- How to apply: Online Google Form or by phone
- Inquiries: Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation, Cultural Programs Team, 033-636-0669
The press release didn't say anything about tuition. If cost matters to you, the surest way to find out is to call and ask when you apply.
Applications Open in Two Rounds
The application schedule is the easiest part of this program to get confused about. The four fields are split into two groups.
- Literature & Art (October lectures): Applications already open since September 23
- Music & Philosophy (November lectures): Applications open October 20
Applications for the literature and art classes opened a week ago. With only around 30 seats on a first-come, first-served basis, if you're interested, call this morning as soon as the foundation opens to check how many seats are left. The music and philosophy classes, on the other hand, aren't taking applications yet. If you try to sign up now, you may be told that applications aren't being accepted and give up. The date is just different; the class isn't full. Mark October 20 on your calendar.
There's one more condition. You must be able to attend all 3 sessions of the field you sign up for. You don't pick one session. You take one field from start to finish over three sessions. Classes are at 2 p.m. on weekdays, so if you work, you may need to take a half day or a day off three times. Check your schedule before you apply.
What You'll Learn in Each Field
All the instructors are active in the Sokcho and Goseong (고성) area. The strength of this program is that the speakers aren't famous names invited from far away. They know the landscapes and people of this region.
- Literature (October): Lee Man-sik, Vice President of Kyungdong University (경동대학교), lectures on 'The Aesthetics of Minimalism', followed by a creative session where you write your own poems.
- Art (October): Choi Yun-cheol, Director of the Goseong Art Museum (고성미술관), covers 'Contemporary Art and the Art Museum'. The last session isn't held in the lecture room. It's an on-site visit to an art museum.
- Music (November): Shin Beom-su, adjunct professor at Kyungdong University, leads a listening session of classical masterpieces under the theme 'Music for the Soul'.
- Philosophy (November): Poet Lee Sang-guk leads a discussion on 'wuwei (無爲, non-action)' from Laozi and Zhuangzi's philosophy.
The calendar has exactly six Tuesdays and Thursdays between October 13 and 29. The six literature and art sessions all fall within this window, so expect the October classes to run on a tight schedule. Be sure to confirm the exact dates with the foundation when you apply.
Who Is It For?
It's a particularly good fit for retirees with free weekday afternoons, parents looking for time of their own after the kids leave for school, and travelers spending a month in Sokcho. The number of month-long and long-stay travelers in Sokcho has grown steadily in recent years, but there aren't many places where they can naturally meet locals. When around 30 people read the same poem and look at the same paintings, you get to hear Sokcho locals' stories that you'd never hear at a tourist spot.
You can take just one field, so it isn't a big commitment. For example, if you're interested in writing poetry, just sign up for the October literature class. If you have more time in November, you can add a music or philosophy class on October 20 and spread them out that way.
Checklist Before You Apply
- To do today: Check remaining seats in the literature and art classes (033-636-0669). It's first-come, first-served, so the sooner the better.
- To do on October 20: Apply for the music or philosophy class. Set an alarm.
- Check your schedule: Make sure you can attend all 3 sessions of your field.
- Getting there: The lecture room is at 국립속초등산학교 (Gungnip Sokcho Deungsan Hakgyo). If it's your first time, check the route and parking in a map app ahead of time.
- Cost: The press release doesn't mention tuition, so call to check.
Also Good to Know About Sokcho Today
Separate from the lectures, here's a roundup of what's happening in Sokcho today.
- Chrysanthemum Exhibition opens today: The '2026 Sokcho Chrysanthemum Exhibition' runs until November 8 at the Fountain Plaza in Cheongchoho Lake Park. A chrysanthemum tea tasting starts at 4 p.m., followed by a lighting ceremony at 6:30 p.m. and a chrysanthemum giveaway at 7:20 p.m. Cheongchoho Lake is currently at a 'Moderate' level.
- Crowds: The Daepo Port (대포항) Observatory is listed as 'Very Crowded', and 한화리조트 설악 워터피아 (Hanwha Resort Seorak Waterpia) as 'Crowded'. 학사평 콩꽃마을 순두부촌 (Haksapyeong Kongkkot Maeul Sundubu Village), Daecheongbong Peak on Seoraksan Mountain (설악산), and 석봉도자기미술관 (Seokbong Dojagi Misulgwan) are 'Moderate'.
- Traffic: All three entry roads, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로) and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로), are flowing smoothly.
- Autumn leaves: The Korea Meteorological Administration observed the first autumn foliage on Seoraksan Mountain on September 28. That's the same as the average year and four days earlier than last year.
- Resident survey: The Sokcho City Public Health Center is running a resident survey until October 10 to inform its 2027–2030 health and medical policy. Paper questionnaires are available at the community service centers of all 8 neighborhoods (dong), and you can also take part via the QR code on the posters.
It will reach 28°C during the day, but it cools down quickly after sunset at 18:11. If you're heading to the Chrysanthemum Exhibition lighting ceremony, bring a light jacket. Sokcho Eottae will keep bringing you even these small everyday details.
Wrapping Up
October is packed with festivals and performances, but sitting in a lecture room and slowly reading a poem is also a good way to spend autumn in Sokcho. Just remember that the literature and art classes are taking applications now, and the music and philosophy classes open on October 20.
Today we looked at the application schedule for each field of the Sokcho Culture and Tourism Foundation's 'Hwamokhan Inmunhak' lecture series and how to apply. Did you find it helpful? We'll be back next time with even more useful information.
