Stories
Notes on mulhoe and Sokcho travel, written by the restaurant.
Why We Never Opened a Second Restaurant — There Is Only This One
Why there are no franchises and no branches: a broth that took a long time to arrive at, seafood that comes from friends who fish, and how to tell you are in the right place — the calligraphy on the sign and the red seal.
Abai Village and the Gaetbae — A Village Built by Refugees, and a Boat You Pull Across by Hand
How Sokcho's Abai Village came to exist: Hamgyong refugees who arrived in the winter of 1951 and never went home, the hand-pulled gaetbae ferry across a 50-metre channel with fares and hours, and where abai sundae and squid sundae actually came from.
Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market — the Dakgangjeong Queue, the Word 'Market Price', and How Buying Raw Fish Actually Works
How to do Sokcho's main market properly: when the fried-chicken queue is shortest, why squid has no printed price, the buy-downstairs-eat-upstairs system that catches everyone out, and how to avoid the parking war.
Ulsanbawi Hike — 808 Steel Steps, Four Hours Round Trip, and Honestly How Hard It Is
A straight answer on the Ulsanbawi trail in Seoraksan: 7.6 km round trip from Sogongwon, gentle for the first two thirds, then a full kilometre of stairs. Fees, water, toilets, and what time to set out.
How to Use a Korean Restaurant — The Call Bell, the Free Side Dishes, and Why Nobody Tips
A Korean dining room runs on rules nobody writes down. Written from behind the counter: press the button, the little dishes are free, the menu price is the final price, and you pay on the way out.
Is Korean Raw Fish Safe to Eat? Yes — and Here's Exactly Why
Korea serves its raw fish live-cut, not aged. Here is how that system works, what the daily seafood testing covers, and how to read a restaurant's origin label in five seconds.
Goseong Unification Observatory — Where You Can See North Korea, and How to Get In
Where can you see North Korea? 50 minutes from Sokcho: the DMZ alternative to Panmunjom — entry app and rules, fares, and what you actually see from the tower.
Two Hours by Bus from Seoul — the Korea Most Visitors Never See
For travellers wondering where to go beyond Seoul and Busan: a 2-hour express bus, Seoraksan, the East Sea, a working fishing harbour at dawn, and an observatory where you can see North Korea. Why Sokcho deserves your next few days in Korea.
How to Get from Incheon Airport to Sokcho — Direct Bus Guide
Direct intercity buses run from Incheon Airport T1 and T2 to Sokcho, Korea in about 3–3.5 hours. Schedules, booking, the Seoul transfer alternative, and practical tips for foreign travellers.
Seoraksan Autumn Foliage Guide — Peak Timing, Trails by Difficulty, and Beating the Crowds
When do Seoraksan's autumn colours peak? First foliage to full peak, trails sorted by fitness level, and the timing tricks locals use to avoid the crowds near Sokcho, Korea.