Sokcho to Seoraksan National Park is not an easy route.

Seoraksan, located in South Korea, is a stunning mountain range renowned for its breathtaking beauty and rich biodiversity. Its majestic peaks, lush forests, and cascading waterfalls attract visitors from around the world. Hiking trails offer both novice and experienced adventurers opportunities to explore their natural wonders. Seoraksan is a haven for nature lovers seeking tranquility and adventure.

However, Seoraksan Mountain cannot be said to have good accessibility. Just taking the express bus from Seoul takes 3 hours, but if you add in the rest, it’s actually 4 hours one way. I recommend using an express bus to get from Seoul to Sokcho. Please note that you can take a bus directly from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal.

How to get there

Anyway, once you have come to Sokcho, you must go to the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (속초시외버스터미널 in Korean) to get to Seoraksan Mountain.

The important thing here is that Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal (속초시외버스터미널) and Sokcho Express Bus Terminal (속초고속버스터미널) are different. Be sure to go to the Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal!

When you come out of Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, cross the main road, and you will see a place to take the bus to Seoraksan Mountain. To get to Seoraksan Mountain, take bus number 7 or 7-1. The frequency of dispatch is approximately 12 times a day on weekdays. Please note that the first bus departing from Sokcho is at 6:30 a.m., and the last bus departing from Seoraksan is at 7:45 pm. It is convenient to assume that the interval between buses is approximately every 30 minutes. Additionally, a one-way ride costs around 1,700 won (about $1.50).

When you board the bus, just get off at the last stop, and you will reach Mt. Seorak. It takes about an hour to get to Seoraksan Mountain, so go to the bathroom beforehand!

Tips

• If you want to get real-time information about bus arrival times, use the Naver Map app! If you want to know why you should use Naver Maps instead of Google Maps in Korea, please refer to this article.
• It’s inconvenient to take the bus and pay in cash, so I recommend purchasing a T-money transportation card in advance.
• If you take a taxi from downtown Sokcho to the entrance of Seoraksan Mountain, it will cost about 20,000 to 30,000 won. If you want a taxi, it is recommended to use the Kakao Taxi app.
• If you do not have the Naver Map app or are lazy to install it, you can check real-time bus information through Naver through this link.