The World, an ultra-luxury residential cruise ship carrying some 500 passengers and crew, will make its first-ever call at Sokcho port in Gangwon Province on Tuesday.
According to the provincial government, the Gangwon tourism foundation and Sokcho city, The World is the fourth cruise ship to dock at Sokcho this year. It operates on a private-ownership model in which passengers own their individual cabins — and with three crew members assigned for every two passengers, crew outnumber guests on board.
The ship departed from Kanazawa port in Japan and is scheduled to arrive at Sokcho at 9 a.m. Tuesday, where it will stay for two nights and three days — the first overnight cruise call in the port's history.
A farewell fireworks display will close out the visit, giving passengers a lasting memory of Sokcho. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will provide nighttime tourism content on Thursday as part of its port-attraction enhancement project.
To welcome The World on its maiden call, the provincial government, the tourism foundation and Sokcho city will hold a variety of events on the day of arrival, including a traditional royal court music and dance performance and a Bukcheongsajannoleum lion dance.
Inside the terminal, visitors can try on hanbok, take photos at a designated photo zone, try hangul calligraphy, and browse a selection of Sokcho souvenirs and local specialty products — offering a showcase of Korean traditional culture and regional character.
A tourist information center will also be set up for passengers and crew, and a shuttle bus will connect the port to key attractions including Sokcho Tourist and Fisheries Market, allowing independent travelers to explore the port of call safely and comfortably.
During their two-night, three-day stay through Thursday, passengers and crew are expected to visit major destinations across the province — among them Sokcho Jungang Market, Abai Village, the Goseong DMZ Museum, Naksansa temple in Yangyang, and the coffee street in Gangneung. The ship will then depart Sokcho for Busan.
Gangwon Province Governor Woo Sang-ho said the province would work to attract more long-stay, high-value cruise tourists and develop distinctive local tourism content to make cruise tourism a genuine driver of the regional economy.
The World is registered in the Bahamas and has a gross tonnage of 43,188 tons, a length of 196.35 meters and a beam of 29.8 meters. It has a passenger capacity of 200 and a crew capacity of 300.
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