Official / Local Name가곡면
Region / ProvinceGangwon Province (Samcheok-si)
PopulationOfficial Municipality
Coordinates37.1212°N, 129.168°E · 383 m
Overview
Set at 383 m elevation amid the highland valleys of Samcheok-si (Gangwon Province), Gagok-myeon (가곡면, pop. Official Municipality) is a gateway for Korean ridge hikes, valley temples, and autumn foliage drives.
| Official / Local Name | 가곡면 (Gagok-myeon) |
|---|---|
| Region / Province | Gangwon Province · Samcheok-si |
| Population | Official Municipality |
| Elevation | 383 m above sea level |
| Nearest Rail / Subway Station | Dongjeom Station (동점역) (11.6 km) |
| Nearby Landmarks & Sights | Porim-sa (보림사) (2.5 km) · Pyŏrakpawi-san (벼락바위산) (1.3 km) · Chungbong-san (중봉산) (1.5 km) · Ch’ibawi-san (치바위산) (3.7 km) |
| Local Neighborhoods & Sub-Areas | Ping-dong (빙동) (1.2 km), Kwangch’ŏnttŭl (광천뜰) (1.2 km), Maegok (매곡) (1.3 km), Punkok (풍곡) (1.3 km), Samgŏ-ri (삼거리) (1.9 km) |
| Neighboring Municipalities | Cheoram-dong (철암동) (9.6 km) · Gumunso-dong (구문소동) (11.6 km) · Wondeok-eup (원덕읍) (12.7 km) · Hwangyeon-dong (황연동) (13.4 km) · Seokpo-myeon (석포면) (13.6 km) |
Getting There & Local Transit
Nearest rail/transit hub: Dongjeom Station (동점역) (11.6 km). KTX Gangneung Line from Seoul to Pyeongchang & Gangneung (1h 30m–2h); ITX-Cheongchun to Chuncheon; Express Bus to Sokcho. Tap a nationwide T-money card on local buses and subways, and search "가곡면" in Naver Map or KakaoMap for real-time directions.
What to See & Do
- Porim-sa (보림사) (2.5 km) — Gagok-myeon (가곡면)
- Pyŏrakpawi-san (벼락바위산) (1.3 km) — Gagok-myeon (가곡면)
- Chungbong-san (중봉산) (1.5 km) — Gagok-myeon (가곡면)
- Ch’ibawi-san (치바위산) (3.7 km) — Gagok-myeon (가곡면)
Local Food & Regional Specialties
- Hearty regional 국밥 (Gukbap rice soup) and handmade 칼국수 (Kalguksu knife-cut noodles) simmered with anchovy, radish, and seasonal greens from Gangwon Province.
- Charcoal-grilled local pork belly (Samgyeopsal), marinated short ribs (Galbi), and savory 해물파전 (scallion and seafood pancakes) served at family-run 식당 (Sikdang, ₩9,000–₩16,000).
- Earthenware-aged 된장 (Doenjang soybean paste) and 고추장 (Gochujang), sun-dried regional produce, traditional 한과 (Hangwa rice sweets), and local brewery 생막걸리 (unpasteurized draft Makgeolli).
- Locals gather for weekday 백반 (Baekban home-style lunch sets, ₩9,000–₩12,000) where every table receives 6–10 complimentary refillable banchan side dishes, and browse the traditional 5-day market (오일장) for seasonal harvest specialties. Across Gagok-myeon (pop. 12,000) in Samcheok-si, neighborhood alleys combine family-run soup and BBQ spots with modern Korean bakery-cafes.
Best Time to Visit
Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov (Autumn Foliage), Dec–Feb (Winter Snow). Gangwon Province → · 3,651 All Cities →