수자원공사 웹진 물, 자연 그리고 사람

Displaced Civilians' Folk Village

The spirit of Sokcho that has persisted throughout history

Surrounded by Seoraksan Mountain and overlooking the East Sea, Sokcho combines the features of both mountain village and fishing village. One of the things that make Sokcho special is the unique culture formed by refugees from North Korea who fled from the Korean War. These displaced civilians left their hometown in North Korea and settled down in Sokcho, forming a village. The Displaced Civilians' Folk Village located within Sokcho Museum shows how they fled from the war, settled down, and built a new life in Sokcho.

In the village, Cheongho-dong alleys where up to 70% of the displaced North Korean war refuges once lived have been reconstructed. Homes and buildings stand across each other on both sides of the small, narrow alleys with all the spaces reproduced as realistically as possible, accurately describing how tough their lives were and how desperately they struggled to survive. The houses show the authentic North Korean lifestyles of different regions including Gaeseong, Pyongyang, Pyongan-do, Hwanghae-do, and Hamgyeong-do, serving as an excellent learning space for kids and adults. As a documentary film shown at the old Sokcho Station, “Displaced People in Sokcho” is a living testimony to the modern history of Korea, and the immersive media content enables you to relate better to the story of the people who had to part from loved ones and live their entire life missing them.

Balhae History Museum offers you a great opportunity to learn about the history of Balhae Kingdom that once dominated Manchuria and the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. You can also learn about Sokcho’s history, culture, and natural environment from prehistoric times to contemporary era.

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Sokcho Central Market

Tastes of Sokcho

When planning a trip, what to eat is probably the biggest question. If you are in Sokcho, the answer is quick and easy because the Sokcho Tourist Fish Market has it all. But you need to plan ahead carefully before you start your tour of the fish market. Otherwise, you will likely fall victim to temptation with the endless array of fresh seafood caught in the east Sea and local specialty products available at the market. If you grab what catches your eye and captures your heart without thinking it through, you will end up with too much fish and food in both hands by the time you leave the market.

Originally opened in 1953 as the Sokcho Jungang Market, it was later renamed Sokcho Central Market, gaining fresh momentum. Among the many must-eat food items, the first local food recommended is Dakgangjeong, or deep-fried and braised chicken. Bite-sized, crispy fried chicken is tossed in a sweet, spicy sauce and topped generously with chopped nuts. It is so delicious that people come from across the country to eat this local specialty food. Interestingly, it tastes even better when it cools. If you start to smell something nutty and savory in the air, you are at the right place: “the Deep-Fried Snack Zone.” Looking at piles of deep-fried shrimps, squids, crabs, and other kinds of seafood, you will be thrilled with the overwhelming range of options to choose from.

Recently, Nurungji (scorched rice) stuffed squid is gaining more and more popularity. The spicy and salty squid dish makes for a great side dish for beer. Finally, you can wrap up your local specialty food tour with local specialty desserts including the sweet Sokcho sandwich cookie or makgeolli bread. The dessert shop is only a five-minute walk from the Inter-City Bus Terminal and a 15-minute walk from the Express Bus Terminal. You can stop by the shop and buy some of these yummy local specialty desserts as a souvenir right before you leave for home.

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