Hanwha Resort in Sokcho $133/Night
Hello! We’re a Korean family exploring Korea with our baby, Loah.
We share honest reviews of the places we’ve personally visited — to help travelers like you discover hidden gems around Korea.
Today, we’re introducing Hanwha Resort Seorak Sorano, a spacious and family-friendly resort located in Sokcho, Gangwon-do.
It’s just a short drive to both Seoraksan Mountain and the beach — about 15 minutes by car to the coastline!
The resort also features its own hot spring water park, making it perfect for travelers looking for a fun and relaxing experience in one place.
This is not a sponsored post. We paid for everything ourselves and are sharing our honest experience.
- A family-friendly accommodation suitable for parents and children.
- The main building, from the structure to the rooms, is mostly outdated, but it is quite well maintained.
- The resort has a hot spring water park.
- It takes about 15 minutes by car from downtown Sokcho.
- There is a very large convenience store in the basement.
- There was a lack of guidance in the hallways, which made it difficult to move around with a stroller.
- The parking lot is small compared to the size of the resort.
More detailed information is organized below ⬇️
● Intro (Hanwha Resort in Sokcho, Gangwon-do – $133/Night)
To be honest, we didn’t choose this place just for the accommodation.
Our family loves playing in the water, so we chose this place to go to Seorak Waterpia.
Once we go into the water, we usually stay in for 5 hours, often around 8 hours until closing time!
This isn’t the newly built modern type,
It’s the deluxe room type in the original main building.
It’s a bit old, but it had a small kitchen and was well maintained!
And the view was great.
There were two rooms,
So there was a bed like this,
And there was also a traditional heated floor (ondol) type room.
For families like ours with a young child,
the ondol type room is safer because of the risk of falling from beds.
Although the room felt a bit old overall,
It gave the impression that it was well maintained.
From our room, we had a direct view of Seorak Waterpia and Seoraksan to the right,
The view was really amazing.
It seems like a really great accommodation for a family trip to Gangwon-do.
Waterpia, which was within walking distance from the resort, truly felt like paradise for us.
● Location of Hanwha Resort in Sokcho ($133/Night)
It takes about 15 minutes by car from Sokcho Tourist & Central Market to Hanwha Resort Sorano.
Accommodations in Sokcho seem to be largely divided into two areas:
One is the area where the beach, market, and tourist attractions are concentrated,
And the other is the area at the foot of Seoraksan, where the resort we’re showing today is located.
The UH Flat Sokcho we showed last time was located right next to Sokcho Tourist & Central Market,
So everything was accessible on foot.
On the other hand, Hanwha Resort offers great views and the advantage of enjoying Seoraksan and Seorak Waterpia.
Today, we’ll show you the deluxe room in the main building!
The main building is an older structure.
However! Waterpia is very close by.
The circled area below is the newly built annex building.
● How to get to Hanwha Resort in Sokcho, Gangwon-do.
The express bus from Dong Seoul Terminal to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal takes around 2 hours.
Once you arrive, the hotel is just a 10-minute walk away.
The Dong Seoul Bus Terminal is conveniently connected to Gangbyeon Station on Subway Line 2, making it easy to reach by public transportation.
✨ How to Choose the Right Bus Terminal
There are three major bus terminals in Seoul,
but to reach this hotel easily, you must use the Dong Seoul Bus Terminal.
If you depart from the Express Bus Terminal (고속버스터미널) instead,
you’ll need to transfer to a local bus after arriving in Sokcho — which can be inconvenient.
🚌 Buses from Dong Seoul Terminal to Sokcho run every 30 minutes,
so there are plenty of options throughout the day.
📝 How to Book Your Ticket
https://intercitybuse.tmoney.co.kr/main.do
Check your date, time, and number of passengers.
Select Dong Seoul (동서울) as your departure terminal. (“Dong” means East in Korean.)
Choose Sokcho as your destination.
Pick the departure time that works best for you!
You’ll arrive at Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal!
You can also buy tickets here,
so if you haven’t booked online in advance, you can purchase them on-site.
English, Japanese, and Chinese services are available.
After exiting through the main gate,
After coming out like this, take Bus No. 3 from the bus stop on the right.
The city bus stop is located right next to you.
This is what the bus stop looks like.
It takes about 33 minutes by bus.
Taxis are also available.
The taxi fare is around $10.
Here’s what the bus stop looks like!
● Hotel lobby, reception and elevator Hanwha Resort in Sokcho
It takes about 2 minutes on foot from the Waterpia bus stop to the accommodation building.
There is a parking lot right in front of the building, which slightly blocked the view,
but I think it’s convenient for those with a lot of luggage.
The building is horizontally long.
There is a long corridor that stretches from Building 1 on the left to Building 9,
and the reception is located on the first floor of Building 5.
The check-in time was 2:00 PM, but if you use the kiosk on the left side, you can check in from 1:00 PM.
Not all buildings have elevators — there were three elevators between Buildings 2 and 5,
and two between Buildings 6 and 8.
You can see this more clearly by zooming in on the photo.
The most inconvenient part of our stay was that
there were no proper signs on the upper floor corridors,
so we had to go back and forth several times along the long corridor from Building 1 to 9.
It was hard to find the direction to Building 1 or where the elevators were located.
Especially on the first floor, only Building 1 and Building 5 had ramps to go outside,
so since we had a stroller, we had to go back and forth several times.
The elevators felt a bit hidden.
However, we kept running into staff along the way, and they were very kind, so we found them quickly.
The elevators weren’t crowded at all and were easy to use immediately.
● Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Info ($133/Night)
- Type: Family-friendly resort
- Address: 111, Misiryeong-ro 2983beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
- Transportation: It takes about 2 hours from Seoul’s Dong Seoul Terminal to Sokcho. From Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, take City Bus No. 3 to the accommodation (about 33 minutes).
- Parking: Free access without registration, open parking in front of the building (no underground parking)
- Check-in/Check-out: 2:00 PM / 12:00 PM (1:00 PM check-in available via self check-in machine)
- Breakfast: Recommended when included in a package
- Swimming Pool: Use of Seorak Waterpia
- Fitness Center: Not available
- Price: Approximately $133 per night on weekdays for 3 people in a deluxe room via Agoda (varies depending on room and date)
- Facilities: Basement convenience store, coin laundry, arcade, coin karaoke room, breakfast restaurant
- Feature: A resort well-suited for families
Rates: Click below ⬇️
There were three of us, but we booked a deluxe room that can accommodate up to four people.
Room types with the word “modern” refer to newly built rooms in the annex building.
However, the regular deluxe room was more than enough for us!
Room rates varied slightly depending on the booking site, and the websites also differed slightly depending on the country of access.
so be sure to check the links below ⬇️ for the best deal.
🌎 For Users in the Americas (incl. U.S.) – https://tidd.ly/3TRRhRW
🌐 For Users in All Other Regions – https://3ha.in/r/160329
🍕 For Users in Italy – https://bit.ly/bookingcomhanwharesortsokcho
For users in the U.S – https://expedia.com/affiliate/fumKV09
For users in Hongkong – https://expedia.com/affiliate/4AyLmeP
For users in Singapore – https://expedia.com/affiliate/LPdQzqK
For users in Canada – https://expedia.com/affiliate/MFcQwqg
For users in Australia – https://expedia.com/affiliate/I5omfUG
For users in the UK – https://expedia.com/affiliate/e7FsLPp
For users in France – https://expedia.com/affiliate/3WFgM1w
For users in Germany – https://expedia.com/affiliate/h2DZn0k
For users in Mexico – https://expedia.com/affiliate/Vybz5ZG
For users in the U.S – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/HT7WUl0
For users in Canada – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/QCISs1y
For users in Australia – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/nU6BSWb
For users in the UK – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/RK7zOfq
For users in France – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/qYm3mbC
For users in Norway – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/JONsXoe
For users in Denmark – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/zIJTCar
For users in Swedin- https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/6nqLAEf
For users in Finland – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/NsLNHMv
For users in Brazil – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/dJWSw4S
For users in Mexico – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/PMvNY44
We made our reservation through Agoda.
Please note that platforms like Hotels.com and Expedia may redirect you to different regional websites depending on the country you’re accessing from.
Each platform may offer different prices or special discounts,
so we recommend comparing a few options before booking!
🏷 Some platforms offer exclusive discounts based on your country or currency — definitely worth comparing!
● Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Introduction (Deluxe Room)
We were assigned Room 12 on the 5th floor of Building 4.
We were able to check in earlier than 2 PM using the self check-in machine.
The view from the room was truly satisfying.
As you get closer to Building 1, you are also closer to Waterpia and have a better view of Seoraksan.
However, even from our room, we had a direct view of Waterpia and a side view of Seoraksan, which was very satisfying.
This is the view after taking about three steps into the room.
On the left is the bathroom, and straight ahead is a dining table and a queen-size bed.
As soon as you enter, there’s an ondol (heated floor) room on the left.
There were two sets of mattresses, blankets, and pillows,
and a small drying rack was provided.
Next to it was a small kitchen.
Cooking meat or fish was prohibited.
Basic cooking utensils were all provided,
but… oh no… there was no microwave!?
There’s a large convenience store in the basement of Building 4, and it had many microwaves,
and many people were using them. 🙂
The kitchen was equipped with simple cookware,
and I really liked the size of the refrigerator.
When you turn around and look back at the entrance, it looks like this.
It was great for light cooking.
Next to the dining table is the bathroom.
As you can see, it looks quite old.
However, it was well maintained.
The toilet had a bidet.
There were 2 shower towels, 3 face towels, and 1 floor towel.
Only body wash and shampoo were provided.
There was a small bar soap at the sink.
The bed and curtains also gave off a very old-fashioned vibe.
The bedding wasn’t in perfect condition, but it was soft and clean.
The TV was impressively large for the room type.
It’s much bigger than you’d expect.
If you turn around, you can see this view.
The telephone was very classic in style.
When you open the curtains, the room becomes very bright,
but the indoor lighting itself was a bit dim — that was a minor downside.
There were ceiling air conditioners in both the bedroom and the ondol room,
and both were quite clean and worked well.
And the best part that makes up for the room’s outdated look —
is the incredible view of Waterpia and Seoraksan!
● Facilities at Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Sorano
🏤 1st Floor (Hanwha Resort in Sokcho)
To the right of the reception desk in Building 5, there is a Starbucks.
To the left, there is a “Sangsang Store” that sells local specialties.
Next to the store, there are stairs and an elevator leading to the basement.
🏤 Basement Level 1 (Hanwha Resort in Sokcho)
On the basement level of Building 3,
there’s a place called Jioia that’s great for relaxing, but unfortunately, the business hours are very short.
The arcade has relatively longer hours,
but the karaoke room and billiard room have short hours, so it might be hard to use them.
When we visited after swimming, they were all already closed.
All the buildings from 1 to 9 are connected by a corridor,
and in the basement of Building 4, there’s a very large convenience store.
It felt more like a big supermarket.
The microwaves here were super popular! 😂
Across from the convenience store, there were coin-operated washing machines.
Since there are no spin dryers at Seorak Waterpia,
many people seem to come here instead.
One drying cycle costs 3,000 KRW.
Under Building 6, there’s the breakfast restaurant “Arte,” but I’ll show that in the breakfast section.
🏤 Outside (Hanwha Resort in Sokcho)
There was a shop perfect for enjoying after nighttime water play.
It’s located right in front of Sorano, very close by.
There were three of us, but we booked a deluxe room that can accommodate up to four people.
Room types with the word “modern” refer to newly built rooms in the annex building.
However, the regular deluxe room was more than enough for us!
Room rates varied slightly depending on the booking site, and the websites also differed slightly depending on the country of access.
so be sure to check the links below ⬇️ for the best deal.
🌎 For Users in the Americas (incl. U.S.) – https://tidd.ly/3TRRhRW
🌐 For Users in All Other Regions – https://3ha.in/r/160329
🍕 For Users in Italy – https://bit.ly/bookingcomhanwharesortsokcho
For users in the U.S – https://expedia.com/affiliate/fumKV09
For users in Hongkong – https://expedia.com/affiliate/4AyLmeP
For users in Singapore – https://expedia.com/affiliate/LPdQzqK
For users in Canada – https://expedia.com/affiliate/MFcQwqg
For users in Australia – https://expedia.com/affiliate/I5omfUG
For users in the UK – https://expedia.com/affiliate/e7FsLPp
For users in France – https://expedia.com/affiliate/3WFgM1w
For users in Germany – https://expedia.com/affiliate/h2DZn0k
For users in Mexico – https://expedia.com/affiliate/Vybz5ZG
For users in the U.S – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/HT7WUl0
For users in Canada – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/QCISs1y
For users in Australia – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/nU6BSWb
For users in the UK – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/RK7zOfq
For users in France – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/qYm3mbC
For users in Norway – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/JONsXoe
For users in Denmark – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/zIJTCar
For users in Swedin- https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/6nqLAEf
For users in Finland – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/NsLNHMv
For users in Brazil – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/dJWSw4S
For users in Mexico – https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/PMvNY44
We made our reservation through Agoda.
Please note that platforms like Hotels.com and Expedia may redirect you to different regional websites depending on the country you’re accessing from.
Each platform may offer different prices or special discounts,
so we recommend comparing a few options before booking!
🏷 Some platforms offer exclusive discounts based on your country or currency — definitely worth comparing!
● Breakfast at Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Sorano
The breakfast restaurant is located in the basement of Building 6.
If possible, it’s best to book a package that includes breakfast.
Personally, I wouldn’t recommend paying for breakfast separately.
Why? The service is friendly and the atmosphere is nice,
but the taste and quality of the food were a bit disappointing for the price.
It’s not that the food was bad!
But it wasn’t good enough for me to recommend either.
They had plenty of utensils and dishes for kids, and the staff were very kind.
The restaurant itself is spacious and comfortable.
One thing though!
The food itself was a little underwhelming.
Well… this is just my personal opinion, so don’t take it too seriously.
I generally judge food based on ingredient quality and seasoning,
and maybe it’s just my taste,
but I found it somewhat disappointing.
Again, it wasn’t bad! But somehow it didn’t quite match the resort’s overall vibe?
My child really liked collecting the “TiniPing” cups in different colors.
This place was very well equipped with kids’ dishes,
and the staff was quick and friendly, always clearing empty plates promptly.
They also offered a few special hot dishes —
on the left is Hwangsimtang (beef soup), and on the right is spicy cold sea snail soup.
There was a pretty good variety of food overall.
● Sokcho Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Seorak Waterpia
We came to this resort specifically to enjoy the hot spring water park, Waterpia.
However, our daughter Loah still has her usual nap time like most toddlers.
She typically naps between 1 PM and 3 PM for 1–2 hours.
So after checking in, we planned to head to Waterpia around 4 PM.
We pushed the stroller and walked there—it takes about 5 minutes on foot.
This place is perfect for families because you can enjoy both the Seoraksan hot springs and the water park at the same time.
At the ticket booth, you just need to show the online reservation info,
and they’ll give you a paper wristband.
Make sure to book in advance online!
The on-site ticket prices are much more expensive.
The website is in Korean, so it may be a bit inconvenient to use.
The screenshot shown here is from July, which is considered the “gold season,” but during the off-season, discount coupons are applied automatically.
Oh no… we made a big mistake.
We entered at around 4:30 PM,
but starting from 5 PM, the different zones began to close one by one.
Originally, we had planned to enter at 4 PM, enjoy the night spa,
and leave around 9 PM to have dinner,
but by 5 PM, the whole place already started to wind down.
I personally thought the big attractions would remain open until 6 or 7 PM—
but I was completely wrong.
The hot spring “Healing Aqua Pool” closed at 6 PM.
Even the outdoor lazy river pool closed at 6 PM.
If you purchase an all-day pass like we did and want to enjoy both day and night zones,
you really need to arrive by 3 PM at the latest to fully enjoy all the attractions.
When we arrived around 4:30 PM,
things were already beginning to shut down,
and we saw day-pass visitors starting to pack up and leave—
which felt a bit off.
What we found most disappointing was that both the aqua pool and the lazy river closed early.
However, the outdoor hot spring
and the indoor wave pool were available until closing time at 9:30 PM.
At night, the night spa was absolutely beautiful.
In any case, we stayed until 9:30 PM and made the most of our time.
We were even able to use the sauna at the end—
it also closed at 9:30 PM.
Being able to use the spa until late and having our hotel right in front made the transition so convenient.
It’s definitely a great place to stay for a family trip in Gangwon-do!
● Final Thoughts – Hanwha Resort in Sokcho Sorano
A family-friendly, multi-purpose resort in Sokcho.
Pros
- Generally old, but very well maintained
- Most of the staff were kind and helpful
- Smooth self check-in and check-out system
- Ondol (heated floor) rooms are great for families with children
- Small kitchen available for light cooking
- Each room has a separating door for privacy
- The view was quite nice
- Housekeeping was excellent
- Surprisingly, the windows were spotless
단점
- No microwave inside the room
- Limited parking space and no underground parking
- No signage in hallways about directions, elevators, or ramps
- Very limited basement facility options and short opening hours
- No child toilet seat in public restrooms
- Only one portable room key is provided (+ 1 fixed key in the room)
| Loah Score | Personal Rating for Hanwha Resort in Sokcho (Out of 10) |
| Transportation & Parking | 8 |
| Staff & Service | 9 |
| Facilities | 8 |
| Cleanliness | 9 |
| Noise & Soundproofing | 9 |
| Breakfast | 5 |
| Willingness to Recommend | 8 |
| Average Score | 8 |
Loah Index Guide (Seorak Waterpia Hot Spring Water Park)
| Category | Score |
| Water Quality | 9.5 |
| Water Park Facilities | 9 |
| Sauna Facilities | 9 |
| Atmosphere | 9.5 |
| Staff Friendliness | 8.5 |
| Nearby Attractions | 9 |
| Transportation | 8 |
| Average Score | 8.9 |
I tend to be very picky, so my scale is:
- 9 or above: Always satisfying, no questions asked
- 8.5 or above: Excellent condition, fully recommended
- 8 or above: Generally satisfying, would revisit
- 7.5 or above: Good value, borderline for revisits
- 7 or above: Affordable but unsure about revisiting
- Below 7: Not worth posting on my site
● Hanwha Resort in Sokcho YouTube video.
● Additional Local Information.
Hanwha Resort in Sokcho
