Sokcho beaches got their biggest update in years for 2026: the city now operates four supervised swim beaches instead of three. Cheongho Beach (μ²νΈν΄λ³) β the small sand strip at the edge of Abai Village β opened as an official swim beach for the first time ever on July 11, 2026, joining Sokcho, Deungdae (Lighthouse), and Oeongchi beaches, which opened July 3.
If you searched Sokcho beaches, beaches in Sokcho, Cheongho Beach, or Sokcho beach opening 2026, start here. This guide covers all four beaches, their 2026 dates, parking for each, and what is actually near the sand.
| Search intent | Best answer |
|---|---|
| Sokcho beaches / beaches in Sokcho | Four supervised beaches in 2026 β compare them below |
| Cheongho Beach | First-ever official season: July 11-August 23, 2026, calm water by Abai Village |
| Sokcho Beach only | Use the deeper Sokcho Beach Guide 2026 |
| Swimming rules and safety | Use the Sokcho Beach swimming season guide |
| Getting here from Seoul | Sokcho Beach from Seoul |
Quick answer: Sokcho's four beaches in 2026
| Beach | 2026 season | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sokcho Beach (μμ΄ν΄μμμ₯) | July 3-August 23 | Facilities, night swimming, events, terminal access |
| Deungdae / Lighthouse Beach (λ±λν΄λ³) | July 3-August 23 | Small-beach feel near Yeonggeumjeong and Dongmyeong Port |
| Oeongchi Beach (μΈμΉμΉν΄λ³) | July 3-August 23 | Quieter sand next to the Bada Hyanggi coastal path |
| Cheongho Beach (μ²νΈν΄λ³) | July 11-August 23 (first-ever season) | Calm, shallow, family water by Abai Village |
Standard swimming hours at all four are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sokcho Beach adds night swimming until 9 p.m. from July 21 to August 12. All four beaches have protective nets against jellyfish and other harmful marine life, daily water-safety staffing (55 personnel citywide), and an emergency treatment center during the season.
Cheongho Beach: Sokcho's newest official beach
This is the 2026 news. Cheongho Beach sits at the seaward edge of Abai Village in Cheongho-dong (address: μ²νΈλ‘ 122-1, Cheongho-ro 122-1), with Sinpo village to the north and Sokcho Beach about 1 km south. Locals have used this sand for years as an informal beach; 2026 is the first year the city runs it as an official supervised swim beach, with a 44-day season from July 11 through August 23.
Why it matters for travelers:
- The water is the calmest in Sokcho. Breakwaters shelter the swim zone, the sand is fine with a gentle slope, and the water stays shallow β the practical choice for small children.
- It is finally equipped. The city built restrooms and shower facilities, added a watchtower, and stations lifeguards through the season β none of which existed before.
- The setting is unusual. You swim next to Abai Village, the Korean War displaced-persons settlement that is one of Sokcho's most distinctive neighborhoods. The Cheongho-dong cafe street has grown around it in recent years.
- There is parking behind the sand. A reasonably wide lot sits directly behind the beach, plus accessible spaces at the Abai Village lot entrance.
How to get to Cheongho Beach
The fun way: take the Gaetbae, the hand-pulled cable ferry that crosses the canal from central Sokcho (near the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market) to Abai Village, then walk through the village to the sand. The practical way: a short taxi, or a roughly 1 km walk north along the coast from Sokcho Beach.
Pair it with the Abai Village stories collection if you want the history and food context β Abai sundae and sikhae are the neighborhood specialties.
Sokcho Beach: the main anchor
Sokcho Beach remains the city's main beach: closest to Sokcho Express Bus Terminal, biggest facility footprint (coin showers, storage, parasol and tube rentals), and the only beach with night programming. The full breakdown lives in the Sokcho Beach Guide 2026; here is what is specific to summer 2026:
- Night swimming: July 21-August 12, until 9 p.m., inside an LED-buoy-marked supervised zone. This is the only Sokcho beach where night swimming is allowed.
- "Sea of Light, Sokcho" (λΉμ λ°λ€, μμ΄) β a large beach media-art projection at the south-gate area, normally Friday and Saturday evenings, running daily during the night-swimming period.
- Summer festival July 31-August 2 and a silent DJ party August 3-5 at the south entrance.
- The Sokcho Eye ferris wheel anchors the north end for the classic photo stop.
If swimming is the point of your trip, read the swimming season guide for rules, shower and locker prices, and day-of safety checks.
Deungdae (Lighthouse) Beach: the small one by the lighthouse
Deungdae Beach (λ±λν΄λ³) is the compact beach below Sokcho Lighthouse, next to Yeonggeumjeong β the pavilion on the rocks reached by a short sea bridge β and Dongmyeong Port, where raw-fish vendors sell straight off the boats. It is the closest beach to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, which makes it an easy first stop if you arrive on an intercity bus rather than the express bus.
In 2026 the city also runs free marine-sports programs at Deungdae Beach β windsurfing, scuba, and survival-swimming sessions β as part of the summer season. Check current sign-up details at the beach or through city notices, since capacity is limited.
Best use: a shorter swim or wade combined with a Yeonggeumjeong sunrise walk and a raw-fish lunch at Dongmyeong Port, rather than a full umbrella-and-cooler day.
Oeongchi Beach: the quiet one on the coastal path
Oeongchi Beach (μΈμΉμΉν΄λ³) sits south of Sokcho Beach, directly in front of Lotte Resort Sokcho. Its calling card is the Bada Hyanggi Road (λ°λ€ν₯κΈ°λ‘) β a 1.74 km coastal boardwalk running from Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi Port through a stretch of coast that was closed to civilians for 65 years as a military area. The walk is the reason to come; the beach itself is smaller and noticeably quieter than Sokcho Beach.
Best use: walk the Bada Hyanggi Road from Sokcho Beach, swim or rest at Oeongchi, then loop back β the easiest way to add texture to a beach day without a car.
Parking at each beach
| Beach | Parking situation |
|---|---|
| Sokcho Beach | Three public lots, 503 spaces total. Seasonal rates July 1-August 31: 2,000 won per 2 hours, 2,000 won per additional 2 hours, 10,000 won daily max. New for July 2026: a free 140-space temporary lot on the wastewater-facility site in Daepo-dong near the south gate, with a 2.3 m height bar (no camper vans). |
| Cheongho Beach | Lot directly behind the sand, plus accessible spaces at the Abai Village lot. Small area β arrive early on peak weekends or use the Gaetbae from central Sokcho instead. |
| Deungdae Beach | No large dedicated lot. Use the free Yeonggeumjeong lot or the paid Dongmyeong Port lots nearby; verify space on summer weekends. |
| Oeongchi Beach | Limited. The low-stress option is parking at Sokcho Beach and walking the 1.74 km Bada Hyanggi Road. Resort guests use Lotte Resort parking. |
On peak July-August weekends, assume the Sokcho Beach lots fill by late morning. The free Daepo-dong lot is the best-value overflow if your vehicle clears 2.3 m.
Which beach should you pick?
| You are... | Pick |
|---|---|
| First-time visitor without a car | Sokcho Beach β terminal access, facilities, food nearby |
| Traveling with small children | Cheongho Beach β breakwater-calmed, shallow, easy to supervise |
| Wanting a swim plus a real walk | Oeongchi Beach via the Bada Hyanggi Road |
| Arriving at the intercity terminal with a few hours | Deungdae Beach + Yeonggeumjeong + Dongmyeong Port |
| Here for night swimming or the media art | Sokcho Beach, July 21-August 12 |
All four are close enough to combine: Cheongho to Sokcho Beach is about a 1 km walk, and Sokcho Beach to Oeongchi is the 1.74 km boardwalk. A determined beach-hopper can see all four in one day; the Sokcho 1-day itinerary shows how to slot a beach block into a fuller route.
Common mistakes
Treating Cheongho Beach like a full-service beach
It is a first-season neighborhood beach with basic facilities. Come for calm water and Abai Village, not for rentals and beach bars.
Assuming night swimming works at every beach
Night swimming is Sokcho Beach only, July 21-August 12, until 9 p.m. Everywhere else, the water closes at 6 p.m.
Driving a camper van to the new free lot
The Daepo-dong lot has a 2.3 m height bar specifically to keep camper vans and caravans out. Use the paid public lots instead.
Swimming outside the nets or after the season
All four beaches run protective nets and lifeguard staffing only during the supervised season ending August 23. After that, the sand stays open but the water controls disappear β walk, don't swim.
FAQ
How many beaches does Sokcho have in 2026?
Four supervised swim beaches: Sokcho, Deungdae (Lighthouse), Oeongchi, and Cheongho. Sokcho, Deungdae, and Oeongchi opened July 3, 2026; Cheongho opened July 11 for its first-ever official season. All four run through August 23.
What is special about Cheongho Beach?
It is Sokcho's newest official beach β 2026 is its first supervised season. About 300 meters of fine sand at the edge of Abai Village, with breakwater-calmed shallow water, new restrooms and showers, a watchtower, and lifeguards. It is the best pick for families with small children.
What are the swimming hours at Sokcho beaches?
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at all four beaches. Sokcho Beach extends to 9 p.m. during the night-swimming period, July 21-August 12, 2026.
Where should I park for Sokcho Beach in 2026?
Use the three public beach lots (503 spaces, seasonal rates in July-August), or the new free 140-space lot on the Daepo-dong wastewater-facility site near the south gate if your vehicle is under 2.3 m tall.
How do I get to Cheongho Beach without a car?
Take the Gaetbae hand-pulled ferry from central Sokcho to Abai Village and walk through the village to the sand, or walk about 1 km north along the coast from Sokcho Beach. For a car-free day plan, see Sokcho without a car.
Is the beach season the same every year?
No. Dates change each year by city announcement. The 2026 season is July 3-August 23 (Cheongho from July 11). Outside those dates, beaches stay open for walking and sunrise, but supervised swimming stops β check current city notices before planning a swim.
Source notes
Checked on July 13, 2026:
- Sokcho City 2026 beach-season announcements: July 3 opening of Sokcho, Deungdae, and Oeongchi beaches; 52-day operation through August 23; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. swimming hours; night swimming July 21-August 12 until 9 p.m.; protective nets, 55 daily water-safety personnel, and emergency treatment center
- Korean local and national reporting (June-July 2026) on Cheongho Beach's first-ever opening on July 11, its 44-day season, new restrooms, showers, watchtower, lifeguard staffing, and family-friendly water conditions
- Accessible-tourism and visit-Korea records for Cheongho Beach's address, sand and breakwater description, and the parking lot behind the beach
- Sokcho City reporting on the new free 140-space temporary parking lot on the Daepo-dong wastewater-facility site (opened July 2026, 2.3 m height limit)
- Sokcho Facilities Management Corporation parking inventory for Sokcho Beach's three public lots and seasonal rates
- Visit-Korea and Gangwon tourism records for the Bada Hyanggi Road (1.74 km, reopened after 65 years of military closure) and Yeonggeumjeong / Dongmyeong Port context
Bottom line
Sokcho's beach lineup grew for the first time in years: four supervised beaches through August 23, 2026, each with a different job. Sokcho Beach for infrastructure and night events, Cheongho for calm family water beside Abai Village, Deungdae for a quick swim near the lighthouse and port, and Oeongchi for the boardwalk. If you only remember one 2026 fact, make it this: Cheongho Beach is officially open for the first time β small, calm, and worth pairing with Abai Village.
For the single-beach deep dive, use the Sokcho Beach Guide 2026. For rules, prices, and safety, use the swimming season guide.