--- title: "March 2019 Stay 02: Yangyang's Sosohan Iyagi" description: "A young couple transformed a dated motel into Yangyang's cleanest, most design-conscious pension—Kyoto-inspired interiors, ocean views from every room, and hospitality that keeps surfers and families coming back." published: 2019-03-07T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Insights" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa898e9e98dcc5264064_62e766b6ab6135f49e25b0fe_5e942aa3241fd8af157dd246_dsc04513.jpeg" canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=2019-03weol-sugso-02-yangyang-sosohan-iyagi locale: en --- # March 2019 Stay 02: Yangyang's Sosohan Iyagi ![DSC04513](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa898e9e98dcc5264064_62e766b6ab6135f49e25b0fe_5e942aa3241fd8af157dd246_dsc04513.jpeg) **Property type:** Pension **Address:** 26, Hajodae 3-gil, Hyeonbuk-myeon, Yangyang-gun, Gangwon-do **Room types:** Double room, quad room, entire house (Soso) **Amenities:** Private parking, BBQ area, hotel-grade amenities, ocean view from every room **Nearby attractions:** Hajodae, Surfy Beach, Hyuhyuam, Yangyang Traditional Market, Naksan Provincial Park, Yeongjin Beach (Goblin filming location) ![IMG_4505.jpg](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc5264195_62e766b7ab61353bc325b108_5e942aa3241fd8b37d7dd245_img_4505.jpeg) ### **Q. Nice to meet you. Please introduce yourself and your property.** Hi! We're Han Mi-ryung and Choi Hyun-bae, operators of Sosohan Iyagi ("A Small Story") — a Kyoto-inspired design stay tucked into a small village in Yangyang, Gangwon-do. Sosohan Iyagi is a pension-style property run by a young couple who prioritize cleanliness and hospitality. We opened in late August 2018, so it's been about six months. From the start, guests have been coming steadily, and we're incredibly grateful. We'd originally planned to open before peak season last year, but construction has a mind of its own. We thought, "Okay, we'll design in January–February, start construction in March, and wrap up in three months." Well, it took us over six months — we didn't finish until mid-August. Sosohan Iyagi has double rooms, quad rooms, and a standalone cottage called \[Soso\], totaling 13 rooms across a three-story building. ### **Q. The name is charming and unique! How did Sosohan Iyagi come to be?** We used to live elsewhere, but when we decided to run a pension, we moved closer to my mother-in-law's hometown in Yeongdong. We scouted the area on foot looking for the right location — and that's how we found this place. A cozy building right by the ocean. We loved it and decided to settle in Yangyang. But this place didn't start out as a design-forward stay. The original structure had a motel vibe — we gutted the entire building and rebuilt it. As Yangyang became a surfing hotspot, surfers flooded in, and guesthouses popped up everywhere. But from what we heard, surfers often ended up in shabby or poorly managed places. We thought: Would people with distinct tastes and a sense of style really be satisfied with that? That's how Sosohan Iyagi started. Funny enough, we ended up attracting more travelers than surfers. Naming the property took a lot of soul-searching. We brainstormed words that fit the place, combined them, and eventually landed on *Sosohan Iyagi* — which means "small story" in Korean. Our rooms are intimate in size, and we wanted this to be a place where people create all kinds of stories. That's where the name came from. ![IMG_4512.jpg](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526419e_62e766b7ab61354f6725b10e_5e942aa34596937bca75b699_img_4512.jpeg) ### **Q. Your Japanese-inspired interiors are getting rave reviews. That's pretty rare in Korea.** When we committed to this business, we knew a generic pension wouldn't survive the market. So we went all-in. We combed through international interior design sites and books, distilling concepts and ideas — that's how Sosohan Iyagi took shape. Our core goal was to create a warm, cozy place people could visit anytime, without having to travel far. Most of our guests are couples. We also see newlyweds with young kids and groups of female friends traveling together. During construction, we were both unemployed, so money was a constant worry. Expenses piled up, no income coming in, and we needed to keep paying the crew. The hotter it got, the more stressed we became. Neither of us had experience in hospitality — my husband was a solo entrepreneur, I was a homemaker. We were diving in blind. Thankfully, the interior design team liked our vision and brought it to life beautifully inside Sosohan Iyagi. Guests tell us they feel exactly the warmth and coziness we aimed for — so I think it worked out. Sosohan Iyagi channels the quiet, countryside feel of Kyoto through its interiors and overall vibe. That's probably why people describe it as warm yet elegant. ### **Q. What are you most proud of at Sosohan Iyagi? A specific space or service?** The rooms themselves. They're one of a kind — a Japanese-inspired stay in Korea. Sitting in the tatami space, sipping warm tea while gazing at the ocean — it's expansive and calming. The third-floor rooms have the best ocean views. Even I'm impressed every time I see them. Our standard rooms are popular with couples and families with young children. We added small tables so people can gather and chat in a cozy setting. Each room type has subtle differences — we wanted variety. The standalone cottage offers privacy and space for larger groups. We've equipped it with a spacious sofa, a dining table, and a kitchenette so guests can cook. It's great for families with parents or friend groups throwing parties. Some guests ask about breakfast service. We considered it but decided not to half-ass it. Instead, we kept room rates affordable and focused on cleanliness and hospitality. ![4](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526418a_62e766b7ab61356a1425b10c_5e942aa1efc8a033ae6084db_4.jpeg) ![3 (1)](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc5264178_62e766b7ab61357d3c25b10b_5e942aa165892ba80f18a819_3-1.jpeg) ![DSC04493](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526419b_62e766b7ab6135235925b10f_5e942aa373fd9d52a3898a46_dsc04493.jpeg) ### **Q. You've got year-round bookings — no off-season. What's the secret?** We were terrified we wouldn't get bookings. We'd never run a property before. So we spent a lot of time thinking about what makes guests fall in love with a place. We targeted younger travelers and tailored everything — pricing, interiors — to their preferences. We talked to younger relatives, friends, acquaintances, and got tons of feedback. Initially, we expected couples planning weddings, newlyweds, and late-20s to early-30s guests with cars. But once we opened, younger travelers started showing up too — arriving by public transport and taxis. We've also seen families with kids and adult children bringing their parents. Our guest profile ended up way broader than we expected. We couldn't afford big marketing budgets, so we leaned entirely on social media. A lot of guests found us through Instagram. Many of them come back and refer friends. Word-of-mouth has been huge for our occupancy. ### **Q. We've seen you running the property while raising a child — very relatable content on social media. Is SNS marketing working for you?** Before our website launched, we took bookings exclusively through Instagram for about two weeks. Somehow, people found us and booked. We keep a separate Instagram account for the property — not our personal ones. At first, we just posted notices and house rules. Then we realized our target demographic lives on Instagram. So instead of spreading ourselves thin across Facebook and other platforms, we focused on Instagram alone. Early on, we documented construction with the hashtag "building diary." These days we're too busy to post frequently, which is a shame. But we try to update at least twice a week — sharing daily moments, weather updates, property news. ![IMG_4509](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526417b_62e766b7ab6135598625b109_5e942aa26390001697d8b3f7_img_4509.jpeg) ![IMG_4510](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526418d_62e766b7ab6135eba825b110_5e942aa2efc8a02f426084dc_img_4510.jpeg) ![DSC04492](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc52641a8_62e766b7ab61351ab825b111_5e942aa4b499e52e15df3993_dsc04492.jpeg) ### **Q. What's the best season to visit Sosohan Iyagi and Yangyang?** We haven't experienced all four seasons since opening, but I've been here through construction, so I feel like I've seen them all. Most people assume summer is best because we're right by the ocean. But summers here are chaos — too crowded, too much traffic. I'd recommend late spring — just before summer hits. Last year during construction, I was stressed and anxious. But walking through the neighborhood's double cherry blossom path in late spring calmed me down. Around April–May, the weather's gorgeous, perfect for breezy walks, and there are hardly any tourists. ### **Q. What does "sensibility stay" mean at Sosohan Iyagi?** Our tagline is "modest but warm space." We're not a flashy pool villa. But we're tucked into a quiet countryside village, and we want guests to disconnect from their busy, exhausting lives and truly rest here. That's why most guests come for relaxation, not sightseeing. Some just stay in and stroll the neighborhood. Others book two nights and split their time between Gangneung and Sokcho. Yangyang sits right in the middle, so location-wise, we've got an edge. We didn't originally plan to offer BBQ — it didn't fit our vibe. But after opening, my husband insisted: "People come to pensions to grill meat." So we built an outdoor BBQ area. Started with a tent, then upgraded to a glass structure. We went with Weber gas grills instead of charcoal for safety. There's decent demand now — mostly late summer and fall. Before construction, I worried this area was too deserted for off-season business. Turns out, the quiet village vibe pairs perfectly with Sosohan Iyagi's sensibility. People appreciate that and keep coming. ![IMG_9852](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc5264187_62e766b7ab6135483e25b10d_5e942aa36390000b4ad8b3f8_img_9852.jpeg) ![IMG_9832](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc526417e_62e766b7ab61357b9e25b10a_5e942aa45f86784b4f657cd2_img_9832.jpeg) ![IMG_9829](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa8a8e9e98dcc5264198_62e766b7ab6135f44a25b112_5e942aa53338326db1438edd_img_9829.jpeg) ### **Q. How did you start using ONDA, and how's it been?** When we launched, I had no idea real-time booking or reservation management platforms even existed. I just knew we needed something for reservations. While searching, I stumbled across a blog post by the operator of Baguni Hostel — who was featured in Magazine ON. That column taught me so much: how to define your target audience before opening, and more. I visited Baguni Hostel's website and saw they used ONDA. So we tried it. We looked at other platforms and got consultations, but their features were hard to navigate. ONDA laid everything out clearly — that's what sold us. We mostly use the mobile app. The room-blocking feature is fantastic. You can leave notes explaining why a room is blocked — maintenance, repairs, whatever. It's incredibly handy. My husband isn't tech-savvy, but even he finds ONDA easy to use. That says it all. ### **Q. Finally, any hidden gems or local spots you'd recommend near the property?** Surfy Beach is a five-minute walk from us — an Instagram hotspot. Guests walk there all the time. For snorkeling, most people think of Jangho Port, but the Hajodae Observatory area is just as good. Naksansa Temple, Hyuhyuam, and Jukdo Beach are famous Yangyang landmarks — need I say more? For food: Single Fin Aleworks is literally one minute away — one of Korea's top seven pizza spots. They've been on TV. Amazing craft beer and Chicago-style pizza. For local eats, try Hajodae Daegu Makchang — surfers and in-the-know locals swear by it. And Hajodae Jeongyuk Sikdang is a butcher shop + restaurant combo where you can get high-quality meat at great prices. ## [**View full issue in Magazine Viewer <<**](http://bit.ly/magazineon27) --- ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting.