Sokcho in Gangwon Province is a beautiful city located in the northeastern part of South Korea, renowned for its natural beauty and fresh seafood. Situated along the East Coast, Sokcho boasts stunning beaches and picturesque mountain ranges, creating a captivating landscape. The Dongmyeonghang (Dongmyeong Port) in particular is famous for its vibrant seafood market, offering a variety of fresh catches. Sokcho is a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, who come to enjoy leisurely strolls along the beach, indulge in delicious seafood dishes, and take in the breathtaking natural scenery. The city also serves as a gateway to various tourist attractions such as Nami Island, making it a hub for diverse tourism activities
The port I always visit when in Sokcho is one particular place—Dongmyeonghang.
Unlike Daepo Port, Dongmyeonghang is known for negotiating and packaging fresh, locally caught sashimi at reasonable prices.
Text and Photos by Mink
It’s always a familiar place, dating back to when I first came here due to a stay at Hanwha Resort during my college days. Time has passed, and Sokcho’s Dongmyeonghang has changed quite a bit since then.
After unpacking at the accommodation, I headed to Dongmyeonghang for some packaged sashimi. It’s a place that holds many memories for me.
Dongmyeonghang, known for its fresh sashimi, used to have tented stalls selling various delicacies. Back then, the mountain squid sashimi was exceptionally delicious. However, it seems that finding mountain squid sashimi has become rare, and Dongmyeonghang has transitioned into a place for natural sashimi with a variety of choices.
Approximately 50m away from Dongmyeonghang, you’ll find the location of the sashimi center and the area for frying.
The area used to have a tented street where you could enjoy various fried foods, but now it has transformed into a fried food street, and a new Dongmyeonghang Raw Fish Center has been established for quite some time.
There is a separate parking lot right above the area, which, despite its considerable size, can get quite crowded during peak seasons.
Moreover, a path along the breakwater extends for about 20 minutes, allowing you to walk to the end of the coast.
I took a stroll along the breakwater and enjoyed the view of Seoraksan Mountain in the distance, the Abbai Village makeshift beach, and a distant white lighthouse. The white lighthouse can only be reached through Abbai Village.
The small island in the distance is visible, and Sokcho’s observation wheel, now one of the hotspots in Sokcho, can also be seen.
A small island is a rare sight on the East Coast, unlike the West Coast, where islands are more common. The size of these islands is generally small, and they are scattered along the coast.
The red lighthouse of Dongmyeonghang in Sokcho greets you after about 20 minutes of walking from the entrance. While it looked beautiful from a distance, up close, you can see the traces of time on its red paint.
From this point, you can also see the white lighthouse at the end of the breakwater on the side of Cheongho Beach (Cheongho Donghae Beach), facing each other.
I returned to Dongmyeonghang Fried Food Street, contemplating where to eat. Eventually, I chose a place that seemed welcoming.
The first time I visited, there were many stalls selling conch, but now it has become challenging to find them, and a fried food street has formed.
I picked up a few skewers of fish cake because I was craving a warm fish cake soup. Is there anything else that warms both the body and soul like the broth from a fish cake soup?
I also ordered a variety of fried foods totaling 10,000 won. Shrimp, vegetables, and squid tempura came out, and as a bonus, the owner gave me some mugwort tempura.
Honestly, the mugwort tempura they gave as a bonus was the most delicious. I couldn’t help but appreciate the fact that fried foods are best enjoyed on the spot. Fried foods, in general, are at their tastiest when consumed immediately.
The second floor offers a view of the port and the sea. There are no additional fees for seating or setup on the second floor, but if you order a spicy fish stew, you must pay 4,000 won per person. This seems to be more like a seat fee. They also serve alcohol, so there might be leftover expenses.
I walked to the second floor with my packed sashimi to enjoy it there. It takes about 5-10 minutes, and it’s worth it. The fee for sashimi is 10% of the original price. I paid 3,000 won to have my sashimi sliced, keeping the rest of the sashimi.
Upon returning to the accommodation and unpacking, I was amazed by the amount of sashimi. Even if four to five people were to eat, it would still be more than enough.
I had also brought other snacks, including Dakgangjeong, from Sokcho Central Market, so my stomach might burst from all the delicious food.
Most of the sashimi was sliced in the style of Sokcho’s Dongmyeonghang, with some having a slightly chewy texture due to the bones. However, a third of them were tender and had a sweet and nutty flavor. The remaining third had a slightly chewy bone texture. Next time, I’ll ask for sashimi from fish with less noticeable bones.
Among the various fish, there was one with a slightly ivory-colored white flesh that suited my taste the best.
Soy sauce with garlic and perilla leaves is the best way to enjoy the sashimi. Despite the shortage of perilla leaves, the harmony of natural sashimi and perilla leaves is the best.
[Review]
- When in Sokcho, I prefer Dongmyeonghang’s natural sashimi and packaged sashimi over Daepo Port.
- It’s convenient to either take away or dine on the second floor.
- Parking is easy, with a reasonably priced parking lot at the entrance of Dongmyeonghang.
- With 30,000 won worth of natural sashimi, you can easily feed 2-4 people. However, the quantity may vary slightly depending on the store.