Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). It is 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 26. The sun sets in Sokcho (속초) today at 18:17. There is one exhibition that opens its doors right at sunset. It is the night exhibition 'What Appears at Night, That Is the Night That Appears' (밤에 나타나는 것, 그것은 나타나는 밤), held at an abandoned resort in Seorak-dong (설악동), where school-trip buses from all over the country once lined up to enter. Today we'll go over how best to see this exhibition, as well as tonight's weather and road conditions.
An Exhibition That Opens Only After Sunset
This exhibition runs from September 21 to November 13, and is open only from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The biggest difference from other exhibitions is that you cannot see it during the day. It was organized by 바움아트스페이스 (Baum Art Space) and 오브오브젝트 (Obeuobeujekteu), and admission is free.
- Venue: 15 Seoraksan-ro 836beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon (강원 속초시 설악산로836번길 15) (abandoned resort in Seorak-dong)
- Period: September 21 – November 13, 2026
- Hours: 18:00 – 22:00
- Admission: Free
- Participating artists: Kang Won-young, Kim Hye-kyung, Sung Jung-won, Lee Seung-chul, Jang Shin-jeong, Jeong Kyung-sik, Cha Cheol-ho (7 artists)
The reason it opens only at night is that the works are seen through light. The seven artists personally set the color, intensity, and direction of the light for each work and arranged them accordingly. So even in the same room, what you see changes depending on where you stand. The unlit hallways and guest rooms are the exhibition space, and the light can only be seen properly after the sun goes down.
Why Did the 'Mecca of School Trips' Become an Exhibition Space?
Seorak-dong was once called the 'number one school-trip destination.' The lodging complex below Seoraksan (설악산) Sogongwon (소공원) was never short of student groups. But as the style of school trips changed and tourists moved to large resorts along the coast, more and more buildings were left standing after closing down. This exhibition venue is one of them.
Since last year, the organizing team has been carrying out 'site-specific' projects in this building. Rather than repairing the ruin or converting it to another use, they take it exactly as it is now as the starting point for their work. The peeling wallpaper, the old guest room doors, and the windows at the end of the hallways are all part of the exhibition. The chilly, eerie atmosphere you could never feel in a newly built art museum is at the heart of this exhibition.
The 'First Night' Is Over; Now It's the 'Second Night'
The exhibition is divided into two parts.
- First Night: Held over two weekends earlier this month. The artists stayed at the abandoned resort, living and working there, while visitors watched them from outside the building through the windows.
- Second Night: Underway since September 21. Visitors go inside the building and see the works placed in the dark hallways and rooms firsthand.
There is also a set viewing order. First, from outside the building, you look at the resort sunk in darkness and the light leaking from its windows. Then you go inside and walk through the rooms one by one. Don't skip the step of looking from outside first. Matching up, once inside, which work in which room was the light you saw from outside is quite a lot of fun.
Tonight's Weather: The Early-Morning Rain Has Stopped
Today's chance of rain in Sokcho is listed at 98%, which may worry you. However, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast, rain in the Gangwon region fell at 5–20 mm through early this morning and gradually cleared from the morning on. The high chance of rain appears to reflect the early-morning rain, and Sokcho is currently 22 degrees and clear.
- Temperature: Currently 22°, with today's low at 18°. Seorak-dong sits at the foot of the mountain, so the night air feels cooler than on the coast. Bring a light jacket.
- Footing: Because of the early-morning rain, dirt paths and stairs around the building may still be wet. Sneakers with non-slip soles are better than sandals.
- Sky: The moon rose today at 17:52. It is close to full, so if the sky is clear you can enjoy the moonlight too while viewing from outside the building.
Getting There: The Coast Is Jammed, Seoraksan-ro Is Slow
The places currently showing as 'very crowded' in Sokcho are 신세계영랑호리조트 (Shinsegae Yeongnangho Resort), Oeongchi Beach (외옹치해변), Dongmyeong Port (동명항), 롯데리조트 속초 (Lotte Resort Sokcho), Cheongchoho Lake (청초호), and 베니키아 산과바다 (Benikea Sangwabada) near Daepo Port (대포항). Almost all of them are on the seaside. As for access roads, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로) (toward Seoul) and Donghae-daero (동해대로) (coast and downtown) are congested, and Seoraksan-ro, which leads to Seorak-dong, is slow.
So this evening, rather than having dinner on the coast and heading straight over, a route where you eat dinner around Seorak-dong or Nohak-dong (노학동) and then go in will be less congested. If you are staying at a downtown hotel, first look up a route that gets you straight onto Seoraksan-ro while avoiding the Daepo Port and Donghae-daero sections.
You also need to consider return traffic. Today is forecast to be the worst day for return-trip congestion of the Chuseok holiday. If you plan to head back to Seoul right after the exhibition, allow plenty of time for viewing and plan around a late-night departure.
What to Prepare Before You Go
This exhibition's conditions differ greatly from those of a regular art museum. It is an abandoned building, it is dark, and it is night. Just keeping the following in mind will make your visit much more comfortable.
- Check closing days in advance: The press release and articles do not include any separate information on closing days or operations during the Chuseok holiday. If you are coming from far away, first check whether it is open today through the organizers' social media or other channels.
- Use your phone light as little as possible: Because the works are made of light, turning on your phone's flashlight breaks the light the artists have calculated. It is good manners to shine it briefly at your feet only while moving and to turn it off inside the rooms.
- If you are with children, hold their hands: The hallways are dark and the building is old, so ledges or stairs may appear suddenly. For children who are afraid of the dark, just watching the window lights from outside is also an option.
- Do not enter blocked-off areas: Since it is an abandoned building, safety outside the exhibition area cannot be guaranteed. Follow only the marked route.
- Arriving after 7 is best: The doors open at 6, but since today's sunset is at 18:17, the sky stays bright for a while. For the window lights to be clearly visible, around 7 p.m. or later is best. No last admission time has been announced, so it is safest to arrive by around 9.
For Residents, a Weekday Night After the Holiday Is Also Good
The exhibition runs until November 13, lasting nearly 50 days. If you are a Sokcho resident, you can avoid the crowded holiday and stop by on a weekday evening on your way home from work. After mid-October, the autumn foliage of Seoraksan comes down the mountain and the sun sets even earlier. Even the same exhibition will likely feel different depending on the season.
For travelers, today is an especially good opportunity. The air is clear after the rain, and the moon is almost full. If you want to see a slightly different Sokcho on a holiday evening when the seaside is all 'very crowded,' head up to Seorak-dong. Like this exhibition, 속초어때 will keep bringing you the lesser-known sides of Sokcho.
At a Glance
- Exhibition: 'What Appears at Night, That Is the Night That Appears' / September 21 – November 13 / 18:00–22:00 / Free
- Venue: 15 Seoraksan-ro 836beon-gil, Sokcho-si, abandoned resort in Seorak-dong
- Today's weather: Early-morning rain stopped, currently 22° and clear, low 18° → jacket, non-slip shoes
- Today's roads: 6 coastal spots very crowded, Misiryeong-ro and Donghae-daero congested, Seoraksan-ro slow
- Tips: Arrive after 7, look from outside first and then go in, limit phone light, check closing days in advance
Today we looked at the night exhibition at the abandoned resort in Seorak-dong that opens only after sunset. Did you find it helpful? We'll be back with even more useful information next time.
