Chuseok, Korea's Thanksgiving, falls at the end of September or beginning of October and offers a 4-5 day holiday break. My friends and I decided to travel from Joella to Seoraksan, one of Korea's largest mainland mountains, despite anticipated traffic from holiday travelers.

Seoul

The group caught an early Saturday bus from Gwangyang to Seoul, spending the day exploring the capital at a leisurely pace. We visited a basement café and enjoyed pineapple cocktails before dining on a rooftop patio watching the sunset over downtown. We also discovered Korean microbreweries producing quality beer.

Journey to Sokcho

The following morning, we boarded a bus to Sokcho for approximately 17,000 Won. What should have been a 2.5-hour drive extended to five hours due to holiday traffic, but the comfortable bus made the journey bearable. We passed impressive rock formations upon arrival.

Sokcho Exploration

The group explored the seaside town's beaches, markets, and shops. We sampled local specialties, including two types of soondae: squid stuffed with crab and shrimp, and blood sausage. These unusual dishes were surprisingly delicious. We wandered the harbor, observed fishing vessels, and viewed dried fish at local markets before retiring early for the next day's mountain hike.