Sokcho City to Welcome the Last Cruise of the Year, Westerdam, at Sokcho Port on the 18th

Sokcho City Hosts Cruise Festa in Conjunction with Ship Arrival
Revitalizing Port-of-Call Tourism and Building a Virtuous Local Economic Cycle
Four Cruise Ships and 8,000 Visitors at Sokcho Port This Year

The Westerdam, the last cruise ship to call at Sokcho Port this year, will visit Sokcho on October 18. Sokcho City, in collaboration with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and the Gangwon Tourism Organization, will host the 'Sokcho Port Cruise Festa' to coincide with the Westerdam’s arrival, welcoming more than 2,700 passengers and crew members.

Sokcho Port Cruise Festa Poster. Provided by Sokcho City

This event, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sokcho Port International Cruise Terminal and the Abai Village area. Through this event, the city aims to revitalize port-of-call tourism and establish a virtuous cycle for the local economy, ultimately positioning Sokcho as a leading domestic cruise port and international marine tourism city.

The festivities will begin with a cruise arrival welcoming ceremony, followed by a variety of programs including a performance by the municipal pungmul troupe, busking and K-pop performances, a Sokcho local food market, and traditional culture experiences. Notably, a photo zone parodying the animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters'-which recently gained global popularity and attention after its release on a major OTT platform-will be set up to attract international visitors. The city and the foundation expect around 5,000 participants, including domestic and international tourists as well as local residents.

At 8 p.m., a fireworks display will be held to coincide with the cruise ship’s departure, bidding farewell to the last cruise ship leaving Sokcho Port this year.

This year, a total of four cruise ships, including the Westerdam, have called at Sokcho Port, bringing approximately 8,000 tourists and crew members to the city. Building on this momentum, six cruise ships-two more than this year-are scheduled to call at the port in 2026.

Sokcho Port’s main advantage is its 'compact layout.' Abai Village and the Tourist Fishery Market are within a five to ten minute walk from the cruise terminal, and major attractions such as Seoraksan National Park, Sokcho Beach, and Cheongcho Lake are clustered within a ten-minute drive, naturally encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more in the area.

The city plans to further leverage these strengths by aggressively attracting more cruise ships and closely linking local businesses and culture, thereby enhancing a tourism model that increases port-of-call spending and visitor stay duration.

Lee Byungseon, Mayor of Sokcho, stated, "We welcome the arrival of the Westerdam, the last cruise ship of the year, and through the Cruise Festa, we aim to establish a pilot model for tourism revitalization that fosters simultaneous growth in the local economy and tourism. By connecting railways, ports, and airports, we will do our utmost to make Sokcho a hub for tourism and transportation, leading the way in cruise tourism."