Hello, this is 속초어때 (Sokcho Eottae). Today is Sunday, October 4, the middle day of the three-day National Foundation Day holiday. At 8 a.m., Sokcho (속초) is 17°C with clear skies. Even so, the chance of rain during the day is 61%, so it's hard to say whether it will stay clear all day. Dongmyeong Port (동명항), the accommodations around Daepo Port (대포항), and Seorak Haemaji Park (설악해맞이공원) are already showing as 'Very Crowded,' and all three access roads, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로), and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로), have slow-moving traffic.
The confusing day this holiday isn't today but tomorrow, Monday, October 5. National Foundation Day (October 3) fell on a Saturday, so a substitute holiday was added. It shows up as a red day on the calendar, but some places actually close and others stay open. Visitors need to decide which day to head home, and residents need to decide when to take care of bank or post office errands, so we'll sort it all out in one place today.
Tomorrow, Monday the 5th: What's Closed and What's Open
A substitute holiday is a public-office holiday, so public institutions and financial institutions close as they would on a Sunday. Most retailers, on the other hand, operate as usual. Here's a summary of the notices released so far.
- Banks: Counters are closed. Mobile and internet banking and ATMs can be used as usual.
- Post offices: Both counter services and parcel delivery are closed. Registered mail and parcels will be accepted from Tuesday the 6th.
- Large supermarkets: Open all three days, from the 3rd through the 5th. 이마트 속초점 (E-mart Sokcho) is also open both today and tomorrow.
- Private couriers: CJ대한통운 (CJ Logistics) delivers on public holidays in its 7-day delivery zones (urban areas). Eup, myeon, and ri areas are excluded, so items sent to outlying areas toward Goseong or Yangyang may be delayed by a day or two.
- Sokcho City Hall and other public offices: Closed tomorrow, with normal operations from Tuesday the 6th.
What matters most for residents is the paperwork schedule. The deadline for objections to the individual housing prices announced on the 30th of last month is October 29, but the City Hall civil service counter is closed tomorrow and also on Hangeul Day, the 9th. If you plan to visit the counter in person, you'll need to plan around these dates.
For Travelers: Leave Today or Tomorrow?
Because this holiday is three days long, traffic heading back to the Seoul metropolitan area is split between this afternoon and tomorrow afternoon. On the afternoon of the 3rd, National Foundation Day itself, the drive from Seoul to Sokcho took up to 3 hours 40 minutes. This morning, the three access roads into the city are already slow, so as the afternoon goes on, it's likely to take time just to get out of downtown Sokcho.
Rather than relying on an official forecast, it's more realistic to decide based on the guidelines below.
- If you're leaving today: It's best to get out of the city before lunch. The Dongmyeong Port and Daepo Port areas are already very crowded, so if you try to have a plate of raw fish before setting off, you'll hit the afternoon congestion right on time.
- If you're leaving tomorrow: You can take your time this evening. However, tomorrow afternoon, return traffic from all over the country will pour onto the roads at once, so it's better to leave early in the morning or wait until late in the evening.
- If you've extended your stay through Sunday night: If checkout is tomorrow morning, leaving right after breakfast is the least congested option.
If you need cash, it's a good idea to withdraw it today. Bank counters are closed tomorrow, and some stalls around Dongmyeong Port and 중앙시장 (Jungang Market) still prefer cash or bank transfers. ATMs are available, but convenience store ATMs near tourist spots have long lines throughout the holiday and charge fees.
Tonight Is the Last Night of the Seorak Cultural Festival
If you're staying in Sokcho one more day, your plans for this evening are pretty much set. The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival (설악문화제) wraps up its three-day run today. At 7 p.m. at the Expo Lawn Plaza, the closing ceremony and celebration performances by Solji, Shin Seung-tae, and Gummy will be held, and once the performances end, the festival will close with fireworks. Admission is free.
Sunset today is at 18:05. The performances start about an hour after sunset, so a good route is to walk along Cheongchoho Lake (청초호), stop first at the chrysanthemum exhibition that opened on the 30th of last month, and then head over to the Lawn Plaza. The chrysanthemum exhibition runs in the same Cheongchoho Expo area until November 8.
One thing to watch out for is the weather. It's clear right now, but with a 61% chance of rain, the evening weather is uncertain. Bring a folding umbrella or a light raincoat, and since the Lawn Plaza gets damp in the evening, if you plan to lay down a mat, bring a waterproof one. The low is 16°C, and with the sea breeze at night, it feels considerably colder. Every year, quite a few people come out in short sleeves and head back just before the fireworks.
Around the Expo, cars all leave at once when the performances end, so if your accommodation is close by, walking is fastest. If you drove, it's actually less frustrating to rest nearby for 20 to 30 minutes after the fireworks before heading out.
Another Holiday Next Week, and This Time Sunday the 11th Is the Catch
It doesn't end after this week. Friday, October 9 is Hangeul Day, so another three-day holiday follows from the 9th through the 11th. It's a time when visitors to Seoraksan (설악산) will increase again ahead of the expected peak of the autumn foliage (October 20).
What's easy to miss here is the mandatory closing day for large supermarkets. 이마트 in Sokcho closes on the second and fourth Sundays of every month, and October 11 is the second Sunday. If you plan to cook for yourself at a condo or pension during the Hangeul Day holiday, you should finish your grocery shopping on the 9th or 10th. On the last day of the Chuseok holiday last month, too, many people went all the way to the supermarket without knowing about this schedule and had to turn back.
If you're looking forward to the Hangeul Day holiday, there's one more thing to keep in mind. The next issuance of 속초몰 (Sokcho Mall)'s 30% discount coupon commemorating the Seorak Cultural Festival is at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 8. It's the day right before the holiday, so the timing works well for ordering Sokcho specialty products in advance.
Today's Sea and Weather at a Glance
- Temperature: Currently 17°C, daytime high 22°C, low 16°C
- Sky: Clear in the morning; 61% chance of rain, so bringing an umbrella is recommended
- Sea: Water temperature 22°C, wave height 0.5 m, fairly calm
- Sunrise/Sunset: 06:23 / 18:05
- Crowds: Dongmyeong Port, the Daepo Port area, and Seorak Haemaji Park are very crowded
With waves at 0.5 m, the sea is calm, but Sokcho Beach (속초해수욕장) closed in August, so there are no lifeguards now. At a water temperature of 22°C, dipping your feet is fine, but it's best to avoid going in. 속초어때 will keep checking crowd levels and road conditions tomorrow, the last day of the holiday, and pass them on to you.
Checklist for Tomorrow
- If you need cash, withdraw it today
- Put off post office parcels and registered mail until Tuesday the 6th
- Head home either before lunch today, or early morning or late evening tomorrow
- For the Seorak Cultural Festival closing performances and fireworks at 7 p.m. tonight, bring an umbrella and a jacket
- Do your Hangeul Day holiday grocery shopping on the 9th–10th to avoid the 이마트 closure on Sunday the 11th
Today we looked at what's closed and what's open on tomorrow's October 5 substitute holiday, as well as what to prepare in advance for next week's Hangeul Day holiday. Did you find it helpful? Have a safe rest of the holiday, and we'll be back next time with even more useful information.
