--- title: "April 2019 Property 01. Sokcho SOHO 259" description: "Meet the sibling duo behind SOHO 259, a guesthouse that's less about sleep and more about connection — tarot readings, treasure hunts, and all." published: 2019-04-11T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Insights" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f4b_62e766b52fdfe16d4d80bbf1_5e942a4fb499e544e2df3855_image.png" canonical: https://global.onda.me/en/blog?slug=2019-04weol-sugso-01-sogco-soho-259 locale: en --- # April 2019 Property 01. Sokcho SOHO 259 ![image](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f4b_62e766b52fdfe16d4d80bbf1_5e942a4fb499e544e2df3855_image.png) **Property type:** Guesthouse **Address:** 11-3 Subokro 259beon-gil, Sokcho-si, Gangwon-do **Room types:** Singles, couple rooms, triples, dormitories (4–6 beds) **Amenities:** Café, bookshop, gallery, courtyard, community room **Nearby attractions:** Yeongrangho Lake, Abai Village, Lighthouse Beach ![img_4414-1.jpg](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f71_62e766b62fdfe1eeda80bbfd_5e942a4f65892bdb6c18a6c9_img_4414-1-e1555316928867.jpeg) ### **Q. Tell us a bit about the property and yourselves.** Hi! We're siblings Lee Seung-ah and Lee Sang-hyuk, and we run Sokcho SOHO 259—a guesthouse built around connection. SOHO 259 first opened in December 2015. After a couple years, we realized we needed more space. So in March 2018, we opened a second building right next door. Location 1 has eight rooms: doubles, triples, and four-bed dorms. Location 2 is a bit different—thirteen rooms ranging from singles to couple rooms to triples to dorms (four to six beds). Different vibes, same spirit. ### **Q. You both came from completely different careers. How did SOHO 259 happen?** **Sang-hyuk:** I used to work an office job in Seoul. Four years ago, I moved to Sokcho. Before that job, my sister and I backpacked through Europe together—and that trip stuck with me. It planted the seed for opening a guesthouse. **Seung-ah:** One of the hostels we stayed at ran a night walking tour. Guests from all over the city would meet up, explore together, become friends, and travel together the next day. We love meeting people, so we joined in—and it blew our minds. We thought, "What if we brought this back to Korea, but made it even better?" That's when we started seriously thinking about opening our own place. Even after Sang-hyuk went back to work, we kept scouting locations. ![IMG_9709](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f69_62e766b62fdfe1177c80bbf8_5e942a4e5f8678fbe7657afd_img_9709-e1555317064966.jpeg) ![DSC04421](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f6e_62e766b62fdfe1e5d880bbf6_5e942a4f3338327570438e1f_dsc04421.jpeg) ### **Q. Why Sokcho? You could have picked anywhere.** **Sang-hyuk:** We started in Seoul. Spent six months walking through old motels, looking for something we could afford. We couldn't. So we looked elsewhere. We both love the ocean, so we traveled up and down the coast, made spreadsheets, scored every location. Eventually, we found this spot in downtown Sokcho—and it clicked. Our criteria: not too many guesthouses already there, and year-round tourism. Sokcho checked both boxes. Plus, we're close to the intercity bus terminal, so guests in their 20s and 30s—our core demo—can get here without a car. You don't need one in Sokcho. You can walk, take buses, explore the city on foot. And it's just over two hours from Seoul—close enough to visit, far enough to justify staying overnight. ### **Q. Your room names are *wild*. What's the story?** **Seung-ah:** When we opened Location 1, we didn't have room names yet. So we threw an opening party, invited friends, split them into teams by room, and had each team name their own room. They wrote the names on wooden plaques we'd prepared. By the end of the night, every room had a name. It was a great way to build attachment—ours and theirs. One example: "Geomungo Sister's Room." A guest who plays the *geomungo* (traditional Korean zither) named it. She's come back for our one-year and two-year anniversary parties and performed for us. **Sang-hyuk:** We did the same thing for Location 2, and even invited Location 1 guests to join. The names don't match. They're not cohesive. But guests love how quirky and personal they are. We even have a room called "Owner 3"—for people who dream of doing something like this themselves. It's a little nudge: you can do this too. ![IMG_4448](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f93_62e766b62fdfe170dc80bbf7_5e942a4e5f86784adb657afe_img_4448.jpeg) ![DSC04420](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f89_62e766b62fdfe16e9d80bbfb_5e942a4f241fd838e77dd19a_dsc04420.jpeg) ### **Q. What did you focus on most when building this place? What was the hardest part?** **Sang-hyuk:** Cleanliness is baseline. But our real focus is connection. We see ourselves in the service business, not just hospitality. We want people to talk, meet, hang out—not just sleep. The hard part? Neither of us had hospitality experience. We made a ton of mistakes, especially with Location 1. We did a lot of the construction ourselves. It was exhausting. But we learned by doing—and those lessons paid off. Before we opened, this neighborhood was mostly older residents. Not many streetlights. Dark at night. After we opened, we petitioned the district office to install more lights. Foot traffic picked up. People say the area feels brighter now. That felt good. And over time, more guesthouses opened nearby. **Seung-ah:** We wanted a space where people naturally run into each other. For Location 2, we worked closely with an architect to design the layout and flow around that idea. We spent the most time on the first floor and basement—the spaces where guests cross paths. The net hammock on the first floor café? That took forever to figure out. It's suspended over an open floor so you can see down to the basement. It's made from reinforced rope, so people can lie or sit on it. Now it's one of our most Instagrammed spots. ### **Q. You reply to *every* review on blogs, booking sites, social media. Doesn't that get exhausting?** **Seung-ah:** It's not exhausting—it's fun. I genuinely enjoy it. Instagram especially—I'm on it like I breathe. (laughs) I love reading what guests say. And their feedback helps us improve. Early on, someone mentioned we weren't registered on navigation apps. We fixed it immediately. Guests take time to write reviews. The least we can do is respond. It's not an obligation—it just feels right. Low ratings can sting, sure—but I remind myself it's feedback for the *business*, not me personally. People see things differently. That mindset helps. And honestly? I've gotten pretty good at it. My reply game is leveling up. ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f79_62e766b62fdfe196ca80bbfa_5e942a50b499e56840df3857_img_4457.jpeg) ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f9b_62e766b62fdfe15b4680bbfe_5e942a50241fd8a01e7dd19d_img_4462.jpeg) ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f8f_62e766b62fdfe1099a80bbf9_5e942a5106600f454cdc7cbc_img_4419.jpeg) ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f8c_62e766b62fdfe1806080bbff_5e942a51241fd88e3d7dd19e_img_9719_00.jpeg) ### **Q. Equipment rentals, tarot readings, high-five zones, "SOTALK" parties—where do all these ideas come from?** **Sang-hyuk:** From the beginning, we didn't want to just run a guesthouse. We wanted to build a place where people connect. To do that, you have to offer things other places don't. So we baked these ideas in from day one. **Seung-ah:** The tarot readings were my thing. My dad's a tarot master, and I grew up watching him. It became a way to bond with guests—share things we wouldn't normally talk about. It makes the relationships feel deeper. We also run big monthly events. Think *Running Man* or *2 Days 1 Night*—variety show formats that regular people can join. We split guests into teams, send them on missions around the city, have them rip name tags off each other's backs. It's goofy and fun. For Halloween, we held a costume contest and turned the SOHO street into a runway. We've done treasure hunts too—hide prizes around the property. Guests love it. So do we. ### **Q. SOHO 259 is more than a guesthouse—café, gallery, bookshop. What's the endgame?** **Sang-hyuk:** Simple. We want to give people a comfortable place to sleep—and then a lot more to do. We want to be the ones providing that "more." Guests say Location 1 feels like their grandmother's house. That's the vibe. We want SOHO 259 to be the place that pops into your head when life gets hard. **Seung-ah:** The café, basement space, gallery, bookshop—that was step one. In May, we're opening a traveler tour center nearby. It'll offer tour programs anyone can join, even if they're not staying with us. We want to expand access. We'll keep hosting performances and exhibitions, building out a broader cultural footprint. Our goal: make SOHO 259 feel like a second home. A place people want to come back to. ![DSC04441](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f74_62e766b62fdfe177c380bbfc_5e942a505f86781be0657aff_dsc04441.jpeg) ![DSC04416](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/65a9fa81d62b7d8c61568f7e_62e766b62fdfe13af880bc00_5e942a52333832a3d7438e25_dsc04416.jpeg) ### **Q. How'd you find ONDA? What's it been like?** **Seung-ah:** At first, we managed reservations in Excel. It was a nightmare. So I Googled around and found ONDA in 2016—back when it was called ZARI. Excel = constant mistakes and overbookings. ONDA fixed that overnight. The system just worked. We've been using it for over three years now. (laughs) **Sang-hyuk:** Early on, there were some rough edges. But ONDA improved *fast*. Now we're very happy with it. One thing that stood out: a couple years ago, ONDA's blog team wrote a feature on us—without us asking. It was thoughtful, well-researched, and it hit Naver's front page. That brought us a lot of visibility. The fact that they're still active on their blog makes the brand feel real and trustworthy. ### **Q. Any hidden gems or local food spots you'd recommend?** **Seung-ah:** Fifty steps from here, there's *Baeksu's Late-Night Diner*—my absolute favorite. They're known for salmon dishes, but the red crab ramen, pan-fried beef, and okonomiyaki are all incredible. Great for a casual drink too. They have locations in Seoul, and this is their third spot. Super popular on social media. For sightseeing, I always recommend Yeongrangho Lake. In summer, it's perfect for biking. Right now, with the cherry blossoms? It's photo heaven. **Sang-hyuk:** I'll shout out *Maeja Restaurant*—amazing rice noodles, open about a year. Five-minute walk from us. Perfect for hangover recovery. Locals go there all the time. Sokcho's full of famous spots—Abai Village, Lighthouse Beach. But guests always ask where to go, so we keep a running list of restaurants and attractions and hand it out. ## [**View the full magazine >>**](http://bit.ly/magazineon28) --- ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting.