Beombawi Rock at Yeongnangho Lake

North of downtown Sokcho, on the south-western shore of the natural lagoon of Yeongnangho Lake, a cluster of huge granite boulders forms a small rocky hill. Locals say it looks like a crouching tiger, hence the name Beombawi ("tiger rock"), and the city counts it as No. 2 of the Eight Scenic Views of Sokcho. A walk of about five minutes from the entrance brings you to a viewpoint over the lake, the East Sea and the Seoraksan ridges, which makes it an easy stop if you want mountains and sea in one short visit.

Yeongnangho Lake and the rock

Yeongnangho is a lagoon cut off from the sea by a sand bar, about 8 km around and roughly 1.2 km² in area. It is named after Yeongnang, a hwarang (elite youth warrior) of the Silla kingdom: the Samguk Yusa records that he discovered the lake, and he is said to have lingered here, taken with the view of the water and the rocks. Beombawi sits half-sunk into the bank roughly halfway along the south-western shore. Once you climb it, you realise it is not one rock but a group of large boulders piled together.

A shape that keeps changing

The rock looks different depending on where you stand and how far away you are. Up close it resembles a tiger crouching low; from the opposite shore it is said to look like a woman lying on her side. Back when the area was thick forest with few people, tigers are said to have roamed here.

A legend goes with it. A traveller freed a tiger caught in a trap, and the tiger repaid him by finding herbs that cured his sick wife. In return, the traveller rowed across the lake to bring the tiger food. A jealous, greedy neighbour tampered with his boat and the traveller drowned; the tiger killed the neighbour, then waited for its friend until it died on the spot and turned to stone.

The view from the top

• Yeongnangho Lake: the lagoon spreads out right below the rock, with a path running along its shore.
• Seoraksan and Ulsanbawi: to the west you can see the Seoraksan ridges and the pale rock wall of Ulsanbawi, sharpest on clear days.
• The East Sea: beyond the lake, the Sokcho skyline and the horizon of the East Sea come into view.
• Film location: scenes on the fictional mountain where the case unfolds in Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave (2022) were shot here. On screen it looks like a dizzying peak; in reality it is a hillock five minutes' walk from the entrance.

A walk around the lake

Once you have seen the rock, consider a loop around Yeongnangho. A path follows the shore; its length is given as anywhere from just over 7 km to 8 km depending on the source. Boardwalk sections by the water make it easy going with a pushchair or small children. Benches along the way make it easy to take it slowly. Seen from the shore, the rock you just stood on looks completely different, which is half the fun.

Tripto tips

• Time needed: about 30 minutes for the rock alone. Allow 2–3 hours if you also want to walk around the lake.
• Opening and fees: open all year round, free of charge.
• Getting there: the address is 140 Yeongnanghoban-gil, Sokcho. It lies about 1 km north of Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal, a 15–20 minute walk. Drivers can use the car parks along the lakeshore.
• Best time: early morning or late afternoon, when low light brings out the colour of the granite and the Seoraksan skyline. Spring adds cherry blossoms around the lake, autumn the foliage of Seoraksan.
• Watch out for: the path is short but fairly steep, and the rock gets slippery after rain or dew. Wear shoes with a firm grip and stay away from the edges.