When to go
Autumn colour reaches Seoraksan first. For 2026, the first leaves are forecast to turn in late September to early October, with the peak in mid-to-late October — roughly 16 to 25 October.
The colour starts at the top and works its way down. The valley near the park entrance turns later than the peaks, so a visit in late October catches more of the lower slopes.
In winter the ridges hold snow, and for anyone from Thailand or Vietnam that is a reason on its own to come back.
Getting there from Seoul — buy the right bus
There is no train to Sokcho. Searching for a KTX will waste your time. Buses are the only way — and the ticket you buy matters more than the terminal you leave from.
| From | Bus | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dong Seoul Terminal (동서울, Line 2 Gangbyeon) | Express, non-stop (고속·직통) | about 2 hours | 14 a day, 07:00–20:00 |
| Dong Seoul Terminal | Intercity (시외), several stops | about 3h 30m | Same building, much slower |
| Seoul Express Bus Terminal (고속터미널, Line 3·7·9) | Express | about 2h 35m | 54 a day, 06:00–23:30. Standard 17,200 · Deluxe 22,300 · Premium 28,900 KRW |
At Dong Seoul, check that the ticket says express (고속) or non-stop (직통). The intercity bus to Sokcho leaves from the same building and takes about an hour and a half longer.
If you need more departure times to choose from, the Seoul Express Bus Terminal runs 54 buses a day.
From Sokcho to the mountain
From Sokcho terminal, take city bus 7 or 7-1 to Seorak-dong Sogongwon (소공원), the main park entrance.
- Fare 1,700 KRW in cash, 1,530 KRW with a transport card
- About 45 minutes
- Every 17 to 20 minutes during the day
The cable car
The Seorak Cable Car runs from Sogongwon up to Gwongeumseong (권금성) at about 700 metres. The ride takes about 5 minutes each way.
You cannot book ahead. There is no reservation system at all — the weather changes too often, so tickets are sold on the day at the counter only. On autumn weekends that means arriving early.
Tickets are sold as round trips only. When you get off at the top, there is still a short walk uphill to the fortress viewpoint. It is not a hike, but it is not flat either.
| Ticket | Round trip |
|---|---|
| Adult (middle school and up) | 16,000 KRW |
| Child (37 months to primary school) | 12,000 KRW |
| Under 36 months | Free |
Operating hours change with the season and the weather, and the times for each day are posted on the operator's homepage. Call 033-636-4300 before you travel.
What one day costs
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bus, Seoul to Sokcho | 17,200 ~ 28,900 KRW one way | From the Express Bus Terminal, by seat grade |
| City bus 7 / 7-1 | 1,700 KRW cash · 1,530 KRW card | Terminal to Sogongwon |
| National park entry | Free | |
| Sinheungsa temple entry | Free | Fee abolished in May 2023 |
| Cable car | 16,000 KRW adult | Optional |
| Gaetbae ferry to Abai Village | 500 KRW adult | One way |
| Food | Varies |
Entry to Seoraksan National Park costs nothing, and since May 2023 neither does the temple inside it. Before that, visitors paid a temple fee just to use the trails.
After the mountain — Sokcho
Sogongwon and Sokcho city are close enough to do both in one day. Take bus 7 or 7-1 back into town.
Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market (속초 관광수산시장) is the food stop in the city centre — the place most visitors head to eat.
Then the sea. Sokcho beach and the rocky lookout at Yeonggeumjeong (영금정) are both in the city, so you can finish the day facing the East Sea instead of rushing for a bus.
Mountain, market and sea in one day is the reason this trip works.
Abai Village — where Autumn in My Heart was filmed
Abai Village (아바이마을) sits across the harbour channel, and the way over is the gaetbae (갯배) — a flat ferry that the passengers themselves pull across the channel along a steel cable. The crossing takes about 5 minutes and costs 500 KRW for an adult, 300 KRW for a child. The landing is a short walk from the market.
The village is where Autumn in My Heart (가을동화, 2000) was filmed — the drama often credited with starting the Korean Wave. Vietnamese viewers know it as *Trái tim mùa thu*, Thai viewers as *รักนี้ชั่วนิรันดร์*.
If the cable car is not running
It happens often. Wind and weather stop it, and the decision is made on the day.
This does not end the trip. The valley path from Sogongwon is gentle and walkable without gear, and the temple grounds are on level ground.
One thing to know: the valley sits far lower than the peaks, so it turns later. On the peak weekend the slopes above may be fully red while the valley is still changing. By late October the colour reaches the bottom.
Check first: 033-636-4300.
Questions people ask
Is there a train to Sokcho?
No. Sokcho has no railway station, so a KTX search will return nothing useful. Express buses from Seoul are the way in.
How long does it take from Seoul?
About 2 hours on the non-stop express bus from Dong Seoul Terminal, or about 2 hours 35 minutes from the Seoul Express Bus Terminal. The intercity bus from Dong Seoul takes about 3 hours 30 minutes — check your ticket before you board.
Can I book the Seoraksan cable car in advance?
No. There is no advance booking. Tickets are sold on the day at the counter, because the weather decides whether it runs at all. Arrive early on autumn weekends.
How much is entry to Seoraksan National Park?
Nothing. Park entry is free, and the Sinheungsa temple fee was abolished in May 2023. You only pay for the cable car if you take it.
Where was Autumn in My Heart filmed?
In Abai Village (아바이마을) in Sokcho. You reach it on the gaetbae ferry — 500 KRW for an adult, about 5 minutes — a short walk from Sokcho Tourist and Fishery Market.
Kori Care Local DirectoryFind pharmacies, clinics and marts in Sokcho
Sources: Korea National Park Service · Seorak Cable Car operator guide · Sokcho city bus fare notice · express and intercity bus operator timetables · Korea Tourism Organization (Abai Village, gaetbae) · 2026 autumn foliage forecasts. Fares, timetables and foliage dates change every year — check the official notice before you travel. This guide is for information only. Photos: Wikimedia Commons — autumn waterfall by Joycekim77 (CC BY-SA 3.0), winter ridge by Educational Broadcasting System (CC BY 4.0), cable car, market and ferry by Bernard Gagnon (CC0), sunrise by Seongrae Kim (CC BY 3.0), valley footbridge by Eirien (CC BY 3.0).