Sokcho (Seoraksan)

Mongolian citizens need a visa for South Korea. Apply for a C-3-9 tourist visa at the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC) in Ulaanbaatar: a single-entry visa valid for 3 months, stay up to 90 days. The visa fee is waived for ordinary passport holders; you pay only the centre's 57,000₮ service fee. Proof of funds such as bank statements is required. Holders of a US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or Schengen visa flying to that country via Incheon can enter visa-free for up to 30 days — this does not apply to an Ulaanbaatar–Incheon–Ulaanbaatar trip.

Tip: Get the visa first, then buy the ticket, and nothing is at risk. K-ETA is for visa-exempt nationalities — Mongolian citizens don't need it.

From 2026 Korea no longer uses paper arrival cards: within 3 days before your flight, enter your passport, flight and hotel at e-arrivalcard.go.kr. It is free — beware of look-alike sites that charge a fee.

Hospitals in Korea are expensive, so travel insurance is a must. Stay in the centre near the bus terminals and you can walk to the market, Abai Village and the beach; for several days of hiking, hotels in Seorak-dong are handier. Rooms fill up early in the autumn-colour season, at the summer peak and over Chuseok.

Tip: If you are going to the Unification Observatory, carry your passport rather than leaving it at the hotel — registration needs it.

Geumgang Express runs a direct bus from Incheon Terminals 2 and 1 via Gimpo and Yangyang to Sokcho 4 times a day, ₩36,400. About 3.5 h from Terminal 1 and 4 h from Terminal 2. Buy tickets on the English T-money site or at the airport counter or kiosk.

Tip: With only a few departures a day, match your flight to the last bus and book a seat ahead.

Take AREX into Seoul, then a bus from Seoul Express Bus Terminal (Gangnam) or Dong Seoul to Sokcho, ~2 h 10–30 min, ₩16,400–34,600. Buses run often, so this is the most reliable fallback if you miss the direct bus.

If you land on an evening flight you may miss the last bus to Sokcho — spend a night in Seoul or near the airport and travel next morning. Save your hotel's address in Korean script on your phone.

If your phone supports eSIM, install an Airalo or KT/SKT tourist eSIM before the flight — it works the moment you land. There are hardly any tourist SIM counters in Sokcho.

Tip: Install Naver Map in Ulaanbaatar and switch it to English before you go.

Incheon's arrivals hall has many KT, SKT and LG U+ counters: show your passport and get a tourist SIM or eSIM. Some packages come with a T-money card.

Buses 7 and 7-1 run from the town centre to Seoraksan's Sogongwon entrance in ~30 minutes, ₩1,530 by T-money card or ₩1,700 cash. Buy and top up the card at GS25, CU or 7-Eleven. Buses fill up on autumn weekends, so set off early.

Taxis to Daepo Port, Naksansa and Yeonggeumjeong are short and cheap; hail them with Kakao T. To see several places in a day, hiring a taxi by the hour is easy for families.

Beyond the Civilian Control Line you can only go by car — public buses cannot take you. Go by rental car, taxi or a tour, and register with your passport at the Unification Security Park.

Visa and Mastercard work in most shops, restaurants and taxis. The fish market, the gaetbae ferry and small stalls want cash — withdraw it from ATMs marked 'Global ATM'. Exchange offices are rare in Sokcho, so change your dollars at Incheon Airport.

Spend over ₩15,000 in one purchase at a 'Tax Free' shop and you can reclaim VAT. For purchases up to ₩1,000,000 the shop deducts it on the spot when you show your passport (up to ₩5,000,000 per trip); the rest is refunded at the airport.

Dakgangjeong from the market — fried chicken in a sweet-spicy glaze; ojingeo sundae (stuffed squid) and Abai sundae in Abai Village; hoe (raw fish) and giant fried shrimp at Daepo Port; Hamhung naengmyeon — cold noodles.

Tip: No tipping in restaurants; side dishes (banchan) are free and refilled on request.

Mild 'huraideu' (plain fried) dakgangjeong, gimbap and hotteok pancakes suit children. When heading to Seoraksan, pick up gimbap, water and fruit at GS25 or CU — there are few shops on the mountain.

Police 112, ambulance, fire and mountain rescue 119 — free, 24 hours. The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline answers in English 24 hours a day and can connect you to the police or ambulance with three-way interpreting.

Weather on Seoraksan changes quickly, and the cable car stops in wind or fog. Wear proper shoes, carry water and warm layers, and come down before dark. Trails close temporarily for forest-fire season, snow and rain — check the national park website.

Lifeguards work only in the official swimming season — keep children out of the water when waves are high. Sokcho Medical Center is the town's main hospital; for minor ailments a pharmacy (약국) is enough. Call your insurer's assistance line first.

At Sinheungsa and Naksansa walk quietly and don't photograph in front of people praying. Take your shoes off before entering a hall and use the side doors, not the central one.

Leave no rubbish on the mountain and stay on marked trails; on narrow paths give way to people climbing up. Fires and fireworks on the beach may be banned outside designated areas.

At the Unification Observatory and in the military-controlled zone, don't photograph military installations or soldiers and don't stop outside designated places — follow the guards' instructions.

Google Maps gives almost no walking or driving directions in Korea — use Naver Map or KakaoMap. They show city buses and Seoraksan's trails.

Kakao T — hail a taxi and see the fare estimate. Papago — reads menus and signs with the camera; handy for asking prices at the fish market.

T-money Bus and KOBUS — intercity bus tickets in English. e-Arrival Card — the online border card.

The direct bus from Sokcho to Incheon takes ~3.5–4 h and runs only a few times a day, so plan to leave at least 7 hours before your flight. Traffic is heavy at weekends and in the foliage season — allow extra time.

VAT not deducted in the shop is refunded at Incheon's TAX REFUND kiosks — carry the receipts and the goods together. The T-money balance can be refunded in cash at a convenience store.