Hello, this is Sokcho Eottae. It is 5 a.m. on Sunday, September 20, and Sokcho (속초) is at 18°C with a few clouds. The chance of rain is 0%, and the daytime high will reach 23°C. The water temperature is 23°C and waves are 0.9m, so the sea is a little choppy.
The places currently listed as crowded are in the city center and the Seorak (설악) area: Cheongchoho Lake (청초호), 워터피아 (Waterpia), the resorts near Seorak, 학사평 순두부촌 (Haksapyeong Sundubu Village), and Daecheongbong Peak (대청봉). On the other hand, Yeongnang-dong (영랑동) and Jangsa-dong (장사동), at the northern end of Sokcho, are not on the list. Yet these two neighborhoods saw Sokcho's biggest change this week. A restriction that had been in place for 35 years was lifted, and the floating bridge on Yeongnangho Lake (영랑호), in the same area, has entered the removal process. Today we look at what each of these stories means for residents and for travelers.
A Restriction in Place Since 1991, Based on a '2-Degree Angle'
The Yeongnang and Jangsa area was restricted because of a military communications facility in Yongchon-ri (용촌리), Toseong-myeon (토성면), Goseong County (고성군). When the Military Telecommunications Act was amended in 1991, the area around this facility became a restricted protection zone, and building heights were limited so that structures would not block the facility's radio signals.
The standard was not the number of floors but an elevation angle of 2 degrees. New construction or extensions were not allowed for any building that rose more than 2 degrees above the horizon as seen from the communications facility. As a result, the allowed height varied even within the same neighborhood depending on distance from the facility and ground elevation, and residents who wanted to repair an old house first had to check it against this restriction.
- Restriction radius: Reduced from 2㎞ to 500m
- Area released: About 1.887㎢ (around Yeongnang-dong and Jangsa-dong)
- Official Ministry of National Defense announcement: July 21, 2026, release and easing of military facility protection zones in Sokcho and Goseong County
- Sokcho City vision proclamation ceremony: July 24, attended by about 600 people including residents
- Residents' celebration: September 16, hosted by the Yeongnang-dong Residents' Autonomy Committee, attended by about 100 people including residents
At the September 16 event, Mayor Lee Byung-sun called the release 'a turning point that will restart the stopped clock of development in the northern area.' The welcome banners hung throughout the city after the announcement also show how many residents had been waiting for this.
What Changes Now That the Restriction Is Lifted?
The plan for the northern area announced by Sokcho City falls broadly into two tracks: living infrastructure and tourism.
- Living: A public postpartum care center, construction of a childcare support complex, and the Jangsa Saemaeul urban regeneration project
- Tourism: Development of a Yeongnangho Lake tourism complex, a Seorak meditation culture center, a barefoot red clay path, and links with the Yeongnangho Cherry Blossom Festival
If you live in Yeongnang-dong, there is one thing to keep in mind. The lifting of the military restriction does not mean you can immediately build to any height you want. Building heights are also subject to urban planning rules such as zoning and district unit plans. If you are planning new construction or an extension, it is safer to first check with the building department at Sokcho City Hall whether any other restrictions still apply to your land. In particular, the Chuseok holiday (September 24–27) falls next week, so it is best to arrange a consultation before the 23rd or after the holiday ends.
On the Same Lake, 400m That Will Disappear
While restrictions have been lifted around Yeongnangho Lake, one facility there is set to disappear: the Yeongnangho Lake floating bridge, which crosses the middle of the lake.
- Size: 400m long, 2.5m wide
- Installed: November 2021, at a cost of about 2.2 billion KRW
- Removal decision: Court-ordered compulsory mediation in July 2024
- Removal budget: 700 million KRW approved by the Sokcho City Council on August 31, 2026
- Visitors: 660,000 last year, 470,000 this year through August
Even before the bridge was installed, environmental groups raised concerns about damage to the ecosystem and problems with the approval process, and after a residents' lawsuit, its removal was decided through court mediation. After that, the city council voted down the removal budget for more than two years, delaying the process until it was finally approved this time. Adding the installation and removal costs together comes to nearly 3 billion KRW, and some have criticized it as a waste of the budget.
However, no start date for the removal work has been set yet. A detailed design contract still has to be completed first, and according to news reports, construction is only expected to begin within the year. The court also did not set a deadline for the removal. If you plan to walk across the floating bridge during this Chuseok holiday, the surest thing to do is check Sokcho City's notices before you set out to see if it is open. Sokcho Eottae will also let you know as soon as any closure notice is posted.
Why Heading North Is a Good Idea This Sunday
Since the crowded spots are concentrated around the Seorak area and Cheongchoho Lake, the north is likely to be relatively quiet today. However, traffic is already slow at three entry points, Misiryeong-ro (미시령로), Donghae-daero (동해대로), and Seoraksan-ro (설악산로), so if you are driving, it is better to set out early.
- Sunrise at 06:11: It is 5 a.m. now, so there is a little over an hour left. Yeongnangho is a lake, so for a sunrise over the horizon it is better to watch from the sea side, toward Jangsa Port (장사항) or Yeongnang Beach (영랑해변). There are a few clouds, so the sun may rise between them.
- A loop around Yeongnangho Lake: The circumference is about 8km, so walking takes around 2 hours, and cycling about 40 minutes. The morning temperature is 18°C, so a light windbreaker is enough.
- Min Jun-gyu photo exhibition: A photo exhibition capturing Sokcho's waves runs in Yeongnang-dong until the 22nd. It is a good stop to combine with a lakeside walk.
- Sunset at 18:26: The Seorak ridgeline is visible to the west of Yeongnangho Lake, so the view from the lake at dusk is also nice.
With waves at 0.9m, the sea is not exactly calm, so please do not climb onto breakwaters or tetrapods. The water temperature is 23°C, which is fine for dipping your feet, but keep in mind that the beach season has ended and there are no lifeguards on duty.
Today's Sokcho Weather at a Glance
- Currently 18°C, a few clouds, high 23°C / low 18°C
- 0% chance of rain, so no umbrella needed
- Water temperature 23°C, waves 0.9m
- Sunrise 06:11, sunset 18:26
- Crowded: Cheongchoho Lake, 워터피아, resorts near Seorak, 학사평 순두부촌, Daecheongbong Peak
- Access roads: Misiryeong-ro, Donghae-daero, and Seoraksan-ro all slow
Today we looked at the Yeongnang and Jangsa area, where the height restriction was lifted after 35 years, and the Yeongnangho Lake floating bridge, which has entered the removal process on the same lake. Did you find it helpful? With something new coming on one side and something disappearing on the other, the landscape of northern Sokcho is likely to change quite a bit over the next year or two. We'll be back next time with even more useful information.
