The story
Before Sokcho, the owner spent years in Seoul, first planning for an outdoor brand and later working around legal and corporate documents. A stay connected to the Rene Blue Hotel event near Songjiho changed the direction of her life. She came to Cheonjin and Goseong for what was meant to be a one-month stay in October 2020, extended it for several more months, and realized that the East Sea felt beautiful enough that she did not need to keep dreaming of Jeju. In 2021 she found a small shop near Yeongnangho, did the putty work and painting herself for three to four months, and opened BLUA in May.
“I want to keep doing the things I love whilst maintaining a good work-life balance.”
Owner, BLUA
What they stand for
BLUA is built around work-life balance, not expansion for its own sake. The owner wanted to keep doing what she liked while protecting a slower life, so she began without heavy investment and still runs the cafe in a way that leaves room for other work: early-morning salad delivery, parasol picnic rentals, and longer-stay lodging. That is why the cafe feels relaxed rather than pressured. It is not trying to be the busiest place in Sokcho; it is trying to stay alive in a form the owner can keep loving.
Behind the signature
The Haenyeo theme came from respect. When the owner first saw local Haenyeo gathering like a circle of mermaids, she was moved by the clarity and pride of women still entering the water in their seventies and eighties. She later learned to go into the sea herself and has gathered things like scallops from the water. In the menu, Haenyeo becomes sweet-salty blue cream, vanilla soda, gamtae waffles, buckwheat noodles, and brunch plates that feel healthy without losing playfulness.
Local tip
The location matters as much as the menu. BLUA sits in a small Yeongnangho-side lane with a calmer rhythm than the beach streets, and public parking nearby makes it easy to fold into a lake walk. It is especially good for visitors who want Sokcho's sea, lake, and small-neighborhood mood in one stop.
Seasonal note
Fresh fruit, salad delivery, brunch components, and Haenyeo-themed specials can change with sourcing and the owner's schedule. Treat the menu page as a guide and confirm the board when you arrive.
For travelers
The owner has traveled and worked around foreign guests, but BLUA is not a place built around long scripted English service. Simple ordering and payment are fine, and the cafe naturally respects each person's quiet time. Keep the English menu open, point to the Haenyeo drinks or brunch you want, and enjoy the slower mood.
