Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). It's 7 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, and Sokcho (속초) is clear at 19°C. Today's high is 23°C, the low is 18°C, and the chance of rain is 11%. Traffic is flowing smoothly on all three access roads: Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로), and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로). It's a weekday morning two days before the Chuseok holiday, so the city is still quiet, but the Daepo Port (대포항) observatory is already showing as 'crowded.' It looks like people who came to watch the sun rise over the sea haven't left yet.
Today we'll set Chuseok aside for a moment and look at something that comes after it. The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival (설악문화제) runs from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4. That's exactly ten days from today, and five days after the Chuseok holiday ends on Sunday the 27th. Whether you're heading home to Sokcho for Chuseok or planning a trip to Sokcho in early October, it's a good idea to check your schedule before this holiday.
What kind of festival is the Seorak Cultural Festival?
The Seorak Cultural Festival began in 1966 as the 'Seorakje (설악제).' It originally came from the 'Seorak Soje (설악소제),' a rite to express gratitude to Seoraksan (설악산) and pray for a bountiful year and the well-being of the region. Now in its 61st year, it is Sokcho's signature local festival, and it is closer to an all-round festival that brings together mountain culture and Sokcho's traditional, folk, and civic culture in one place.
This year's theme is 'Seorak, Colored Together.' Given the timing, the theme fits quite well. This year's first autumn foliage on Seoraksan is expected around September 30, and the festival opens two days later. That means the Seorak ridges you look up at from the festival grounds will just be starting to change color. However, the first foliage date is based on the mountain's upper slopes, so the foothills visible from downtown are likely to still be green. Don't expect too much; think of it as going to see 'autumn just beginning.'
It's already started: last Sunday's pre-events
The festival opens on October 2, but the pre-events have already taken place. Two events were held on Sunday, September 20.
- Dalma! Ridge Trail Walk: The course starts at Seolhyang Park (설향공원) in Seorak-dong (설악동), passes Seorakhyanggi-ro (설악향기로), Dalmabong Peak (달마봉), Gyejoam Hermitage (계조암), and Sinheungsa Temple (신흥사), and comes down to Sogongwon (소공원). Registration was open to the first 500 people.
- Seoraksan Sinje (Seorak Sosa) (설악산신제(설악소사)): A memorial rite was held at Seoraksan's Sogongwon to pray for the well-being of residents and visitors.
The Dalmabong ridge trail is an unofficial trail, so it's normally closed, and it mainly opens during the Seorak Cultural Festival period each year. This year's chance has passed, so if you were aiming for Dalmabong, it's best to keep an eye out for next September's registration notice. Please be careful: entering restricted sections on your own may result in a fine.
Three days of the main festival: where and what
The main events are split between two venues: Sokcho Expo Grass Plaza (속초 엑스포 잔디광장) and Seorak Rodeo Street (설악로데오거리). Expo Grass Plaza is the square in front of Expo Tower (엑스포타워) on the Cheongchoho Lake (청초호) side, and Seorak Rodeo Street is a pedestrian shopping area in the heart of downtown Jungang-dong (중앙동). They are within walking distance of each other, so a route that covers both works well.
- Friday, October 2, opening stage around 7 p.m.: Scheduled performers include Yeom Yu-ri and Solji from Miss Trot 3, singer Gummy, and Sokcho-born singer Shin Seung-tae.
- Saturday, October 3, street parade: Held twice, at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. This is the highlight of the festival.
- Hands-on booths: About 55 teams are expected to take part. Activities such as traditional folk games will be offered.
- Also: Performances by local artists, a memorial service for mountaineers, a Seoraksan concert, and a food market.
The opening ceremony will also include the awards ceremony for this year's three Sokcho Citizen Grand Prize winners. They are neighbors who have long been active in preserving Sokcho Arirang, volunteering, and local development, so if you live in Sokcho, you might stop by the opening ceremony and give them a round of applause.
We recommend the 5 p.m. parade over the 2 p.m. one
There's a reason the parade on October 3 is held twice. It's split so that spectators don't all crowd into one time slot, and for a few reasons we recommend the 5 p.m. parade.
- Sunlight: In early October, the sun in Sokcho sets a little after 6 p.m. The 5 p.m. parade takes place when the light comes in at an angle, so photo colors are softer and you avoid the direct midday sun.
- Route: If you come at 2 p.m., you'll be left with an awkward amount of time between the parade and evening. If you watch the 5 p.m. parade and then have dinner around Rodeo Street, your day flows much more neatly.
- Spots: The first parade often draws bigger crowds. If you're with children, it's easier to get a front spot at the second one.
However, road closures are expected around Rodeo Street during the parade. The specific closure sections and temporary parking lots have not been announced yet. A notice will be posted on the Sokcho Culture & Tourism Foundation's Seorak Cultural Festival website (sokchofestival.or.kr) just before the festival, so be sure to check before you set out. Applications for parade participants and hands-on booths already closed on September 10.
A three-day holiday from October 3 could be busier than Chuseok
Take one more look at the calendar when planning. This year National Foundation Day (October 3) falls on a Saturday, so Monday, October 5 is a substitute holiday. That makes a three-day holiday from the 3rd to the 5th, overlapping with the second and third days of the festival.
During Chuseok, there's a lot of hometown travel traffic, but tourists actually tend to be spread out. The first holiday in October, on the other hand, is when demand for autumn trips all comes at once. Add the start of the Seoraksan foliage and the Seorak Cultural Festival, and Sokcho could be even busier this weekend than during Chuseok. In practical terms, here's a summary.
- Accommodation: If you're thinking of staying in Sokcho on October 3–4, it's safer to book before the Chuseok holiday. Once the holiday starts, you'll have less room to compare prices.
- Friday for a quieter visit: October 2 is a weekday, so apart from the opening stage, the daytime is relatively uncrowded. It suits families who want to take their time at the hands-on booths.
- Residents, go on foot: Expo Grass Plaza and Rodeo Street are in the middle of downtown, so if you drive, you'll spend all your time parking. If you live nearby, walking or taking the bus is better.
- Heading back to Seoul: Congestion toward Seoul is expected on Misiryeong-ro and Donghae-daero on the afternoon of Monday, October 5. Checking the three access roads on 속초어때's real-time traffic screen before deciding when to leave will help.
So how should you spend today?
Today is a clear Tuesday with almost no worry of rain. The water temperature is 22.9°C and wave height is 1.1 m, so the sea is just a little choppy. The beaches have already closed for the season and there are no lifeguards, so please stay out of the water and stick to walks.
- Walk the festival grounds in advance: The area around Expo Tower is currently at a 'moderate' level. Taking a walk around Cheongchoho Lake and seeing where the festival stage will go is a nice idea.
- Daepo Port later in the morning: The Daepo Port observatory is crowded right now. It's much more comfortable after 9 a.m., once the sunrise crowd has left.
- Today is a good day for Seoraksan: The Sinheungsa area is 'moderate' and Seoraksan-ro is flowing smoothly. Once the holiday begins, the Sogongwon parking lot fills up quickly, so if you've been thinking about Seoraksan, today or tomorrow, the weekdays before the holiday, are better.
Seorak Cultural Festival checklist at a glance
- Dates: Friday, October 2 – Sunday, October 4, D-10 as of today
- Venues: Sokcho Expo Grass Plaza and around Seorak Rodeo Street
- Theme: Seorak, Colored Together
- Opening stage: Around 7 p.m. on October 2, with Yeom Yu-ri, Solji, Gummy, and Shin Seung-tae scheduled to perform
- Street parade: October 3 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
- Hands-on booths: About 55 teams
- Holiday: Three-day holiday October 3–5 (substitute holiday on the 5th)
- Road closures and parking: Check the foundation's website notice just before the festival
Today we looked at the schedule for the 61st Seorak Cultural Festival, which follows the Chuseok holiday, and tips for enjoying it. Did you find it helpful? When the detailed festival timetable or road closure information is released, 속초어때 will put it together for you again. We'll be back next time with even more useful information.
