The temperature was dropping sharply day by day just like to rush into
the winter. The Sokcho city, located in the far northeast of Korea, was a small town at first but it became a big city according to migration of lots of refugees population from North Korean after the Korean war(1950-1953). This city is a gateway to nearby Seoraksan national park(설악산 국립공원) and is one of the biggest harbor city in the amount of fishery products. And thus many people used to visit not only for their summer holidays but also good reputation of sea products all year round.
At this time, I skipped over Seoraksan mountai (설악산)because
we already went there last summer and I planned to go to the ‘Abai Village’(아바이마을; fathers’ village; dialect of Hamgyeongdo
region in North Korea). This is a small village located in Cheongho-dong street in Sokcho(속초) city. It has the shape of a stripe land area between Cheongcho Lake and the East sea. This village was originally set up as an area to house North Korea refugees those who await to return their hometown in North Korea. Despite of ending Korean war, the country divided into two bodies( South Korea and North Korea) and they could not go back to their hometown never again. So they had to settle down somewhere in south area. After all, large percentage of the refugees lived further in here and named it as Abai village after the deriving of being of elderly age, “uncle” or “aged male person”. It looked as just small village to the eye but it had sad story about our country.
Here was the ordinary village until that had been famous as filmed sites for
K-drama ‘Autumn in My Heart’(Gaeul Donghwa;가을동화)
in November,2000 which is romantic television drama reaching a peak viewership
of 46.1% in Korea and also was aired on television in many Asian countries
after that.
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| Drama KBS ' Autumn in My Heart' |
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| The Gat bae(갯배) |
The Gaetbae(갯배) Boat, a floating raft of tires and wood,
being operated by people pulling on rope moving the boat across a waterway,
served for a long time as the main way, to get from the little island to
downtown, just 50 meters distance, instead of going by a round-about way up to
5 kilometer until the recent completion of a bridge made for driving. Especially, the
scene that the hero of drama was searching for heroine was so aching in ones
heart to viewer that many people want to ride on this boat as being like hero. Yes,
this has been known as famous place by drama. But I would like to add some more stories
being forgotten as times go by.
‘Abai village’(아바이마을), This is the village having heart broken story. This is the just place where people from North Korea has lived since the date of ceasefire the war(1950-1953) during
over 60 years, is still waiting to go back to their hometown with hoping to see
their family being left in. In 1952, the code name was ‘Christmas Cargo’. During the
Korean War, UN coalition forces (especially US army) and Korean militaries were
isolated in Heungnam area of North Korea due to massive influx of Chinese
military force supporting the North Korea. The weather was so cold about -30 to
-40 centigrade and the status was very urgent. So militaries took a decision of
withdrawal troops by the route of the sea. Under way of preparing the
evacuation, it happened that refugees who had lived in those areas and nearby
areas gathered into Heungnam port to take the boat going to South Korea. Did you ever see these photos?
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| capture by 두산백과 Meredith Victory called as 'Ship of Miracle' |
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| capture by 두산백과 refugees from North Korea in above ship up to 14000 peron |
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| capture by 두산백과 burning Heungnam port |
Captain Leonard Larue, was 35 years old only at that time,
said “God’s own hand was at the helm of my little ship.” They safely arrived at
Geojedo island near by Busan city on the morning of Christmas day in 1952 after long
hard voyage in over 13 hours. After ceasefire, refugees could not go to the
hometown, so they settled down in the empty sandy plain by the sea in Sokcho
city as the nearest town to approach to go their hometown, had been waiting
for the unification of both Korea, The South and The North.
Sokcho city was a
small city before. As the inflow of these refugees, the population was
increased, the city had become a big city in Gangwondo province, these
displaced person gained commercial supremacy of Jungang-market by making market
in this zone filled with reeds when they arrived here at first. In this
respect, it is not too much to say that Sokcho is the city made by the
displaced person. As the years rolled by, the first generation of internally
displaced person passed away about in the 50 percentage and the second generation
has taken over their business.
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| abai sundae |
Abai Sundae(아바이순대)
that is steamed squid stuffed with a mixture of noodles, tofu, vegetables and
squids is the famous unique food in this village, being created by old refugees generation from North Korea. Original one was made of the gut of a big animal, tripe, but they
replaced it by using squid because it was not easy to get the tripe under lacking
of everything after war. Hamheung Naengmyeon(함흥냉면)
is also famous food (cold buckwheat noodle).
Another recommendable cuisine in here is as follow.The most favorite food is maybe Manseok dak gangjeong(만석닭강정),
the stir-fried chicken formed into small balls and coated in a sweet and spicy
source. This is so famous and well known to the people, they can enjoy even other area using quick delivery system. Don’t miss to taste this fried chicken. I could easily see the persons
who are holding these boxes. It is very famous and delicious. Not so far from
downtown, there is a natural spa area; Cheoksan hot spring district(척산온천지구), there are available for proper
accommodations to the tourists also. This is an extraordinary alkaline thermal
spring, looks like slightly blue radiance, is good for skin diseases, eye
diseases, stomach disorders, neuralgia, blood circulation and relaxing ones’ fatigue, they say. Next time, wish to visit this hot spring. It was raining when I awoke on the next day. There was Seoraksan mountain in the rain at a long distance.
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| The Seoraksan mt. in the rain |
Sokcho city is one of the most
tourist attractions being loved by Koreans and foreigner with its spectacular
sceneries of mountain and sea all the year round. This is not disappointed with
you. *** How to get there**
Take the inter-city bus from Dong-Seoul bus terminal in
Seoul to Sokcho. It takes 2 hrs 50 mins only.
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