Mayor Lee Byungsun: "We Will Engrave the Honor of Korea’s Cultural City in Sokcho’s History"

Sokcho City Embarks on Becoming a "Cultural City of Korea" Through Gourmet Tourism
Sokcho Cultural Tourism Foundation and Korea Gourmet Tourism Association Establish Cooperative System for Gourmet City
Enhancing Urban Competitiveness with Gourmet Content such as Abai Sundae and East Sea Seafood

Sokcho City in Gangwon Province is taking concrete steps to establish itself as a sustainable cultural city in Korea, with gourmet tourism at the forefront.

The Sokcho Cultural Tourism Foundation (Chairman Lee Byungsun, Mayor of Sokcho) signed a "Business Agreement for the Creation of a Sustainable Gourmet City" with the Korea Gourmet Tourism Association on October 1. Provided by Sokcho City

The Sokcho Cultural Tourism Foundation (Chairman Lee Byungsun, Mayor of Sokcho) signed a "Business Agreement for the Creation of a Sustainable Gourmet City" with the Korea Gourmet Tourism Association on October 1. Through this agreement, Sokcho plans to accelerate its efforts to become a cultural city by actively discovering gourmet content that links its food culture with tourism resources.

Sokcho has long been loved by tourists for its stunning natural environment, shaped by the East Sea and Seorak Mountain. Now, the city aims to combine its unique local flavors and stories-such as Abai Sundae, a dish reflecting the sorrows of displaced people, and fresh seafood caught at dawn in the East Sea-into "storytelling-style gourmet tour products" that will offer visitors a deeper and more meaningful experience.

With this agreement, the two organizations will establish a close cooperative system based on their respective areas of expertise. Their collaboration will include: ▲ systematic discovery and promotion of Sokcho’s food culture resources ▲ joint development and implementation of education programs for training professionals in gourmet tourism ▲ research and content development related to gourmet tourism ▲ branding of local gourmet tourism and expanding domestic and international promotion efforts.

Starting with this partnership, both organizations also plan to explore mid- to long-term cooperation models, such as building a wide-area gourmet tourism belt that connects Sokcho with Goseong and Yangyang.

Lee Byungsun, Chairman of the Sokcho Cultural Tourism Foundation and Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "This agreement marks the starting point for Sokcho’s food culture to become not just a potential asset, but a core driving force for the city’s future. As food becomes culture, and culture becomes the city’s vitality, we will ultimately engrave the honor of being a ‘Cultural City of Korea’ into Sokcho’s history."