Saemaeul
새마을
The small-lane neighborhood behind Sokcho Beach, built in 1968 after a storm surge. Now udon, yoshoku, brunch and a lamp studio, with a 3D map to walk it.
- Where
- Behind the south end of Sokcho Beach
- Built
- 1968
- From cruise terminal
- 3.1 km · about 1 hr on foot
- Getting back
- Taxi back recommended
Place guide freshness
Last reviewed on
Reviewed by HeySeorak editorial team
Saemaeul: quick answer
Saemaeul (새마을, "new village") is a grid of low houses and narrow lanes just inland from the south end of Sokcho Beach. Families who lost their homes to a storm surge in 1968 moved into disaster-relief housing here, and many of those small houses still line the lanes. Over the last few years, new places have opened between the older homes, laundries and noodle shops. Come for lunch after a morning on the beach, walk the lanes slowly, and stop at the places whose owners chose this street.
Walk into the lanes
Every pin is a place with its own page on HeySeorak. Tap one and its building lights up; pick a kind of place to see only those. Switch between 3D and 2D any time.
How the new village got its name
1968
A village rebuilt after the sea
In October 1968 a storm surge struck the east coast and many Sokcho families lost their homes. Disaster-relief housing went up on this stretch of Joyang-dong. Accounts differ on the size, from 440 to more than 800 houses. The families who moved in called their neighborhood Saemaeul, the "new village".
Half a century of low lanes
The grid of small houses and narrow lanes has stayed. Long-running naengmyeon shops and laundries still sit between newer doors.
2020–2024
Regeneration, not redevelopment
An urban regeneration program repaired old houses, lanes, streetlights and parking and opened a community center. It kept the houses instead of clearing them for new buildings.
2020s
Udon, surf and small shops
Udon and Thai kitchens came first, then a surf shop and gelato, then cafés, guesthouses and small shops. Korean press now calls it the "Seongsu of Sokcho", after Seoul's warehouse-café district.
2025–2026
A neighborhood that speaks for itself
In November 2025 the city designated Saemaeul an alley shopping district (골목형상점가), which gives its merchants' association an official voice. In August 2026 the neighborhood held its own festival, the 68 Saemaeul Neoul Festival, named for the year it began.
Places on the street
Each of these places has its own page and an English menu or guide on HeySeorak. We add more as neighbors join.
Know before you go
- Getting there
- Walk inland from the south end of Sokcho Beach; the lanes start within a few minutes. From the cruise terminal, the Port to Beach walk follows the coast through Abai Village and past Cheongho Beach and ends here, about 3.1 km and an hour on foot.
- Getting back
- Taxi back recommended, especially if you have an all-aboard time to keep.
- Opening days
- Most places here are small and set their own days off and break times. Some close midweek, and some open only on weekends. Check each place's hours on its page before you walk over.
- It's a neighborhood
- People live in these lanes. Keep your voice down, and ask before you photograph homes or people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Saemaeul in Sokcho?
How do I get to Saemaeul from the Sokcho cruise terminal?
Where can I eat in Saemaeul?
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