Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). As of 6 a.m. on Friday, September 11, Sokcho (속초) is 18°C with clear skies. Today's high is 24°C, the morning low is 17°C, and the chance of precipitation is 0%. There are no weather advisories in effect either on land or over the central East Sea (동해), and the three roads into Sokcho — Misiryeong-ro (미시령로, toward Seoul), Donghae-daero (동해대로, the coast and downtown), and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로), toward Seoraksan (설악산) — are all flowing freely at this hour. Even allowing for the early hour, days when all three access roads are completely clear have been rare so far in September.
But it will be hard to write that same sentence next week. For five days, from Monday, September 14 through Friday, September 18 — three days from today — a large-scale military exercise will be carried out across the northern East Sea coast, including Sokcho. It won't affect those coming to Sokcho this weekend, but if you are planning to travel to or from Sokcho next week, it is better to know about it today.
September 14–18: Partial Traffic Control on National Routes 7 and 46
The Army's 22nd Division will conduct the 2026 Hwarang Exercise (화랑훈련) for five days, from September 14 to 18. The exercise area covers Goseong (고성), Sokcho, and Yangyang (양양), which fall under the division's jurisdiction. It is a regular exercise in which national defense elements in the region — military units, government offices, and police — take part together to check their cooperation systems and establish an integrated defense posture.
There are three things travelers and residents will actually notice.
- Traffic - During the exercise period, partial traffic control, including the operation of checkpoints, will be in place on National Route 7, National Route 46, and some other roads. National Route 7 is Donghae-daero, which runs north to south through downtown Sokcho, and National Route 46 is the approach from the Seoul direction over Misiryeong. You can assume that both of the main axes in and out of Sokcho are included.
- Tracked vehicle movement - Along with large numbers of troops and vehicles, the movement of tracked equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles is planned. Tracked equipment is far slower than ordinary vehicles and moves in columns.
- Noise - Near the exercise sites, equipment movement sounds and training noise may occur. The division will operate a safety control team to manage safety, and complaints are received at the division's civil affairs office (033-631-6653).
What matters is that this exercise is less about 'blocking roads' and more about 'slowing the flow.' Because it is partial control rather than a full closure, it is not that you cannot get through — it just takes longer than usual. The question is which time of day the delay falls on.
If you are traveling to or from Sokcho next week, prepare like this
If you remember the day during last week's 강원학교스포츠클럽축제 (Gangwon School Sports Club Festival) when all three access roads were congested at once, you will get the picture. Sokcho effectively has only three ways in, so when one axis slows down, cars pile onto the other two. Here are some realistic tips for next week.
- Add 30 minutes to an hour to your travel time. Especially if you have plans you cannot afford to miss — KTX or bus departure times, hospital appointments, connecting flights — it is best to leave yourself plenty of margin.
- Never force your way past a column of tracked equipment. Tanks and armored vehicles have large bodies and wide blind spots from the driver's seat. Even if it feels slow behind them, keep enough following distance, and pass only on stretches where the view of oncoming traffic is completely clear.
- At checkpoint sections, roll down your window and slow down. Hand signals from control personnel take priority over traffic lights. The estimated arrival time given by your navigation app does not reflect the control situation.
- Avoid commuting hours. The heaviest strain comes from 7 to 9 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., when the partial control overlaps with rush hour. If possible, we recommend traveling after 10 a.m. or between 2 and 4 p.m.
- If you have family members sensitive to noise, let them know in advance. Pets, small children, and people sleeping after night shifts can be startled by sudden equipment noise. Hearing it while knowing it is an exercise feels different from hearing it without knowing.
Looked at the other way, this weekend is the most comfortable timing for a trip to Sokcho in mid-September. From today through Sunday is unrelated to the exercise, and the weather is clear with a 0% chance of precipitation.
It is 6 a.m. and six places are already busy
At this hour, the crowded places in Sokcho are 신세계영랑호리조트 (Shinsegae Yeongnangho Resort, very crowded), 마레몬스 호텔 (Maremons Hotel), Cheongchoho (청초호), 켄싱턴호텔 설악 (Kensington Hotel Seorak), 신흥사 (Sinheungsa, Seoraksan), and 외옹치항 (Oeongchi Port). The character of places that are busy at 6 a.m. is completely different from during the day.
- Three lodging facilities near the top means guests have not checked out yet. In other words, the roads in that area will get busy once, around 11 a.m.
- Cheongchoho and 외옹치항 are crowded in step with today's sunrise time of 06:03. The sky is clear and the waves are calm at 0.6 m, so conditions for a horizon sunrise are good.
- 신흥사 being crowded at this hour is a sign that Seoraksan hikers are already on the move. During the autumn hiking season, early-morning ascents increase.
Watching the congestion levels on 속초어때 every day, patterns become visible. When lodgings and ports are busy at dawn, downtown and the markets get busy later that morning. If you want to see 관광수산시장 (Gwangwang Susan Market) or 대포항 (Daepo Port) at a relaxed pace, before 9 a.m. is the answer.
The sea is calm, but going in is another story
Today the water temperature off Sokcho is 24°C, and the waves are very calm at 0.6 m. The tide is at 8물 (8-mul), with high tides at 03:18 a.m. and 2:49 p.m., and low tides at 08:48 a.m. and 9:48 p.m. If you are planning to go out on the shoreline rocks, take a beach walk, or fish, the low tide around 8 to 9 a.m. is when the water has pulled back the most, making it good for walking.
That said, Sokcho's swimming beaches have all closed for the season, with 등대해수욕장 (Deungdae Beach) the last to close on August 30. A water temperature of 24°C is still warm enough to go in, but right now there are no lifeguards at the sea and no swimming areas marked off with buoys. Recently there was an accident in which a person in their 30s died while snorkeling in the waters off Sokcho. The reason the sea is dangerous after the season closes is not that the waves are strong, but that when nothing is happening, no one is watching. The calmer the day, the easier it is to let your guard down.
- Refrain from entering the water at closed beaches, and if you must go in, the rule is at least two people and a life jacket.
- Breakwaters and tetrapods have almost no friction when wet. On a day like today, with high tide at 2:49 p.m., the water comes up around that time.
- If an accident occurs, report it to the Coast Guard at 122 or to 119.
Also check the Sokcho events that continue from next week
These are local events that overlap with the exercise period or follow right after it.
- 씨네테이블 (Cine Table) first screening (Saturday, September 19, 6 p.m.) - Held around 아트플랫폼 갯배 (Art Platform Gaetbae) beneath 설악대교 (Seorak Bridge). The program screens director Yoon Ju-hoon's 평양랭면 (Pyeongyang Raengmyeon) and director Lee Ha-eun's 제씨이야기 (Jessi Iyagi), combined with tasting the food that appears in the films. Advance registration is available on 이벤터스 (Eventus) until 8 a.m. on the 19th, and on-site registration is also available on the day. Food is limited to the first 100 people, exchange wristbands will be handed out from 5:30 p.m. that day, and the first 50 advance registrants will receive a tableware set. For inquiries, call 033-636-0676.
- Mountain program linked to 설악문화제 (Seorak Cultural Festival) (Sunday, September 20) - It starts from 설향공원 (Seolhyang Park) in 설악동 (Seorakdong) and continues through 설악향기로 (Seorak Hyanggi-ro), 달마봉 (Dalmabong), 계조암 (Gyejoam), and 신흥사 to Seoraksan 소공원 (Sogongwon).
- The 61st 설악문화제 (October 2–4) - As of today, that is D-21. The theme is 설악, 함께 물들다 (Seorak, Coloring Together), and it will be held around 엑스포 잔디광장 (Expo Lawn Plaza) and 설악로데오거리 (Seorak Rodeo Street). The highlight, the street parade, takes place on October 3 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Around 55 teams will take part in the experience booths.
Here is a good way to spend today
Clear, a 0% chance of precipitation, a daytime high of 24°C. These are the best conditions you can expect in Sokcho in September.
- 6 to 9 a.m. - Sunrise has already passed, at 06:03. If you are out now, a morning walk by the sea or a beach walk timed to the 08:48 low tide is good. 관광수산시장 is also at its quietest at this hour.
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. - With a high of 24°C and low humidity, outdoor activity is comfortable. We recommend paths with continuous shade and boardwalks, such as the Yeongnangho (영랑호) loop trail or 설악향기로.
- 3 to 6 p.m. - The roads are much better once the resort checkout traffic has cleared. It is a good time to head toward Seoraksan.
- After 6 p.m. - Sunset is at 18:40, and the sky goes completely dark at 19:07. If you plan to watch the sunset, you should claim your spot by 18:20.
To sum up, today and this weekend the weather, the sea, and the roads are all in good shape, and from Monday through Friday next week you will need to add extra time on National Routes 7 and 46 for five days. The exercise is a scheduled event and a safety control team will be operating alongside it, so if you know about it in advance, it should not cause much inconvenience.
Today we looked at the plan for traffic control on the roads into Sokcho due to the 22nd Division's Hwarang Exercise running from September 14 to 18, along with today's weather, tides, and congestion in Sokcho. Was it helpful? We will be back next time with even more useful information.
