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Sokcho
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sokcho |  |
|---|---|
| Hangul: | 속초시 |
| Hanja: | 束草市 |
| Revised Romanization: | Sokcho-si |
| McCune-Reischauer: | Sokch'o-si |
| Statistics | |
| Area: | 105.25 km² |
| Population: | 89,461 (2001) |
| Pop. density: | 850 people/km² |
| Administrative divisions: | 10 dong |
 |
|
Sokcho is a city in Gangwon province, South Korea. It is located in the far northeast of the country along the coast of the Sea of Japan (East Sea).
The city is well known as a gateway to the nearby Seorak-san national park. Lying north of the 38th parallel, the city also serves a number of tourists attracted by the closeness to the DMZ. Many of the population have relatives in North Korea.
Until the opening of the airport in Yangyang County, Sokcho had its own airport, linking the city to Seoul. The city still attracts many national and international tourists, not only because of Seorak-san, but also because of its fine fishery products. The beach of Sokcho has a good reputation, although it is only open for 42 days every year. There are natural hot springs in Sokcho, some of which have been developed into spas and pleasure swimming halls. There are also golf courses which are popular because of their natural surroundings.
The nearby Yeongrangho lake is renowned for its beauty. The reflection of Seorak-san and its Ulsan-bawi are particularly popular. There are a number of well-preserved Buddhist temples in the area around Sokcho. The main building of the Sinheungsa temple (Geukrakbojeon) is a popular tourist destination (originally built in the 15th century). Also popular is the Hyangseongsaji samcheung seoktap, a three storey pagoda of 4.3 metres. It dates from 652 and is located at the site of the Hyangseongsa temple.
Yeonggeumjeong is a popular pavilion built on the shores of the Sea of Japan. It is not only popular for its magnificent views of the sunrise, but also for the sound of the sea which is thought to be particularly nice at this site. It is thought that the pavilion was built at this location for sonic reasons.
Sokcho is home to one of the few lakes naturally created by the sea.