Welcome to the first chapter of our Gangwon travel guide series, tracing Korea’s most cinematic coastline. Gangwon is the mountainous, sea-facing province northeast of Seoul, and its east coast is a straight run of wide beaches, fishing towns, and filming locations plucked straight from a drama — because many of them were. We travel the coast in drivable parts, and Part 1 heads north from Gangneung to Sokcho: a Goblin’s breakwater, the BTS bus stop, Korea’s original surf beach, and a famous seafood market. Pack a windbreaker and an appetite.
How This Gangwon Travel Guide Series Works
The east coast rewards geographic thinking. The stops below line up along the coast road running south to north, so drive them in that order — Gangneung first, Sokcho last — with the sea on your right the whole way. Gangneung, two hours from Seoul by fast train, is the gateway, and it’s famous for something we’ll save for a later chapter: its Anmok “coffee street,” a shoreline of espresso bars that put Korean specialty coffee on the map. For now, we point the car north after drama, surf, and seafood. Before leaving the capital, a slow morning in a hanok neighborhood like Seochon Village makes a lovely contrast to the wind and salt ahead.
Goblin Breakwater, Jumunjin – A Drama Made Real
Start on Yeongjin Beach just north of Jumunjin, at the breakwater made famous by the tvN drama Goblin (Dokkaebi in Korean). This is where the heroine lights a birthday candle and the Goblin appears behind her — one of the most replayed scenes in modern K-drama, and now Gangneung’s most-photographed stretch of concrete. Fans line up to recreate the shot at the end of the jetty, and vendors nearby rent the exact props: a red scarf and a bouquet of buckwheat flowers, for a few thousand won. Walking the breakwater is free, and even non-fans get a bracing dose of raw East Sea. Go early for calm water and an empty jetty.
BTS Bus Stop, Hyangho Beach – The Album Cover
A short hop north brings you to Hyangho Beach and a lone bus shelter facing the sea — the one from the cover of BTS’s You Never Walk Alone. The original was a temporary set from the 2017 shoot; after fans kept making the pilgrimage, the city installed a permanent replica on the same sand. The framing faces east, so sunrise here is an ARMY bucket-list moment: come before 8 AM and you may have the bench to yourself. It’s a free public beach, so the etiquette is simple — take turns, keep sessions short when others wait, and don’t climb on the shelter. Our dedicated BTS bus stop guide has the full route, timing, and photo playbook.
Surfyy Beach, Yangyang – Korea’s Surf Capital
Continue north into Yangyang, reinvented as Korea’s Bali, and pull in at Surfyy Beach — the country’s first surf-dedicated beach and still its liveliest. A kilometer of sand hosts board rentals, beach bars, and tanned Seoulites who came for a weekend and never quite left. First-timer lessons include a board and wetsuit and usually have you standing within a couple of hours; the season runs roughly May to October. Even if you never touch the water, the beach-bar sunset with a DJ is the whole vibe of Yangyang in one scene. Book lessons ahead through the official Surfyy Beach site, especially on summer weekends.
Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market – The Final Feast
End the drive in Sokcho, at the bustling tourist and fishery market that anchors the town. This is the market Koreans credit with popularizing dakgangjeong — sweet, crispy, twice-fried chicken in a sticky glaze — and the founding-era stall still draws long lines. Beyond the chicken, it’s a deep dive into east-coast seafood, with squid sundae as the adventurous local order. The local move: buy a box of dakgangjeong to go and eat it at Sokcho Beach ten minutes away, guarding it from the seagulls. The market keeps long hours, working as a late lunch or early dinner before you turn back.
Getting Around This Route
A rental car makes this coastal run effortless, since the four stops line up along the shore road and transit between the smaller beaches is patchy. Without a car it’s still doable: the KTX from Seoul reaches Gangneung in about two hours — book on Korail’s English site, as seats sell out on summer and holiday weekends — and local buses like the 300 link Gangneung to Jumunjin for the Goblin and BTS spots. Yangyang has its own KTX-Eum station a short taxi from Surfyy, and Sokcho is served by frequent express buses. Navigate with Naver Map or Kakao Map, not Google. Afterward, our Myeongdong local secrets guide is a soft landing for a last city evening.
Good to Know
- The four stops run south to north on the coast road — drive Gangneung first, Sokcho last.
- KTX Seoul–Gangneung is about two hours; reserve weekend and holiday seats early.
- The Goblin breakwater and BTS bus stop are free public spots — best at sunrise, before the crowds.
- Surfyy Beach’s season is roughly May–October; book lessons ahead on summer weekends.
- In Sokcho, grab dakgangjeong to go and eat it at the beach — mind the seagulls.
- A car is easiest; by transit, combine KTX to Gangneung with local buses and taxis.
Gangwon East Coast FAQ
Can I do this whole route in one day?
With a car and an early start, yes — the four stops sit along one road, and a dawn arrival at the breakwater sets up a north-bound day ending with dinner in Sokcho. It’s a full day, not a lazy one. By transit, split it across two days and base a night on the coast.
Do I need a car for the Gangwon coast?
Not strictly, but it helps. Trains and express buses reach Gangneung, Yangyang, and Sokcho, and local buses cover the drama spots, but each transfer adds time. Without a car, mix KTX with taxis for short hops, or focus on one cluster — the Gangneung filming spots or the Yangyang–Sokcho north end.
When is the best season to go?
Summer, roughly May to October, is peak: surfable water at Yangyang, warm beaches, and beach-bar energy. But the filming spots and market are wonderful year-round, and the off-season brings moody grey seas and empty jetties that suit the drama moods perfectly. Just dress for the coastal wind, which blows hard in any month.
That’s Part 1: north up the coast from a Goblin’s breakwater to a market feast. Next in the series, we slow down for Gangneung itself — the coffee shoreline, the pine forests, and the beaches locals keep for themselves.