Gangneung
East Asia · South Korea
Did you know?
- Try sundubu, makguksu, and handmade kalguksu before coffee on Anmok Beach.
- A museum here is described as the world's largest gramophone museum.
- The city hosted ice sports at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
See also
Yangyang
South Korea38.07°N 128.62°E
Sokcho
South Korea38.21°N 128.59°E · 2 m
Pyeongchang
South Korea37.56°N 128.49°E · 600 m
Overview
A coastal city beside the Taebaek Mountains, Gangneung combines a distinct regional culture with beaches, museums, and Olympic-era ice-sports history. Coffee, sundubu, and buckwheat noodles give the city a strong food-and-cafe identity.
Languages: Korean
Why go?
Gangneung is the largest coastal city in Gangwon Province, nestled at the east side of the Taebaek Mountains. Geologically isolated from most parts of the country, it preserved its own distinct culture and is politically conservative. The city was the venue for the ice sports of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Understand
Geologically isolated from most parts of the country, the city was able to preserve its own distinct culture, and to date it has a tendency of being politically and culturally more conservative. Gangneung was the venue of the ice sports in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting in
Gangneung Station is the terminus for the Dong Hae line of Korail. There is a train that connects to Cheongnyangri Station in Seoul, but it takes a circuitous route through the mountains and takes 6 hours. Gangneung Bus Terminal connects the city to all major cities in Korea. There is only one expressway connecting to Seoul, so traffic gets heavy on Fridays and Sundays.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to go
The Gangneung Danoje festival takes place every June (3rd to 7th day of 5th lunar month), featuring the Gwanno Mask Play and fireworks. The International Junior Art Festival is held annually from 1-4 August at Gyeongpo Beach. The Gyeongpo Summer Festival occurs in August, and the Gangneung Coffee Festival is in October.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and drink
Gangneung is known for sundubu (soft tofu), especially at Chodang Grandma's Sundubu. Yehyang Makguksu serves the local specialty buckwheat noodle dish. Geumhak Kalguksu offers handmade knife-cut noodle soup. The Coffee Street along Anmok Beach has many specialty coffee shops. Cafe Paul & Mary is famous for handmade burgers.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to do
Visit Ojukheon House, birthplace of scholar Yulgok and his mother Saimdang, featuring one of Korea's oldest wooden buildings. Gyeongpodae Pavilion offers views of the moon over Gyeongpoho Lake. Charmsori Gramophone & Edison Science Museum is the world's largest gramophone museum. Gyeongpo Beach has a long sandy beach with shallow water. Arte Museum is an immersive media art exhibition. Jeongdongjin Rail Bike offers a 5.1-km round trip along the coast.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Budget
Backpackers can find dorm beds from ₩20,000. Meals range from ₩4,000 for kalguksu to ₩6,000 for makguksu. Coffee is around ₩3,000. Many attractions are free or have small fees.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day trips
Pyeongchang, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics, is a nearby destination.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go next
Pyeongchang is the next major destination to the west.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- eat
Bani Sweet and Sour Chicken
Can try sweet and sour chicken (닭강정) and Korean-style fried chicken. Prices range from ₩20,000 to ₩22,000, and the menu includes sweet and sour chicken and fried chicken. Can choose between mild and spicy flavors.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Bossanova Coffee Roaster
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Brother's noodle
Jang (red pepper paste) kalguksu is famous in Gangneung. The parking lot isn't very good. The waiting line is always long and the store is small. Menu: Very spicy, basic, less spicy, Janggi, and white soup.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Cafe Paul & Mary
Very famous store in Gangneung for handmade burgers.
Recorded price: Drink: americano ₩3000, caffe latte ₩3500, juice ₩5000, ades ₩4500, burgers ₩5500-6500, French fries ₩5000, beer & cocktail ₩4000-8000
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Chodang Grandma's Sundubu
If you like sundubu (soft tofu), you can taste various sundubu dishes. You can feel a softer taste because they make their own tofu. Also Gangneung is well known of sundubu.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Chung-ang Cutlet
This restaurant specializes in tonkatsu set meals, which cost \5,000, \7,000, and \9,000 for small, medium, and large size. The pork cutlet sandwich also availabe(\5,000).
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Gangneung Gamja Ongsimi
Televised on several popular national TV programs for their gamja ongsimi, a variety of dumpling soup.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- eat
Gangneung Gimbap
It's a typical Korean restaurant with typical Korean dishes like gimbap, bibimbap, kimchi stew and any thing else. Prices are also relatively inexpensive, ranging from ₩5,000 to ₩8,000.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Connectivity
Area code for Gangneung is 033.
Information
Gangneung Station Tourist Information Center provides maps and guide books in English, Japanese, and Chinese.