The village was named 'Abai' after the Hamgyong dialect word for 'father' or 'elder'.
Many residents were originally refugees who expected to return north soon, leading to the construction of makeshift, small-scale housing.
The hand-pulled Gaetbae ferry requires passengers to use a metal hook to pull the boat across the water via a fixed cable.
It was not a formal village before the Korean War; the land was a barren sandspit occupied by refugees out of necessity.
The village maintains a specialized museum exhibit documenting the lives of displaced families during the early 1950s.
Abai Village is a historic settlement in Sokcho established by North Korean refugees who fled south during the Korean War. The village consists of tight alleyways and low-rise houses that reflect the temporary living conditions of the 1950s. It gained widespread national recognition as a primary filming location for the K-drama 'Autumn in My Heart'. Visitors can access the village via a traditional hand-pulled ferry, known as the Gaetbae, which remains a symbolic link to the residents' displaced past. The area is renowned for its regional North Korean cuisine, specifically Abai-sundae, a type of blood sausage stuffed with sticky rice and vegetables. The village serves as a living museum of the postwar era, preserving the cultural heritage of displaced Hamgyong-do province families. It sits on a narrow sandbar separating Cheongcho Lake from the East Sea.
On the Gaetbae ferry while pulling the cable, or in the alleyway featuring the 'Autumn in My Heart' filming site mural.
Try the squid-stuffed Abai-sundae at one of the local restaurants, as it is the village's signature dish.
Experience the Gaetbae ferry ride yourself by pulling the cable to cross the short waterway.
Combine your visit with a walk along the adjacent Sokcho beach for coastal views.
Avoid rushing through the village; the experience is meant to be a slow stroll through historical alleys.
