Sokcho City's 'Sokchoholic' Establishes Itself as a Bridge for Communication Beyond Information Delivery

Evolving into a Popular Newsletter with 5,200 Copies Published Monthly

Praised for Citizen-Centered Content and Enhanced Reader Participation

Sokchoholic, the municipal newsletter of Sokcho City, Gangwon Province, is establishing itself as a comprehensive magazine that goes beyond simply delivering administrative information, capturing the lives of its citizens and the history of the city in depth.

Cover of Sokchoholic, April 2026 issue. Courtesy of Sokcho City

The May 2026 issue of Sokchoholic, scheduled for publication next month, will mark the 111th issue since the title was changed to Sokchoholic. The newsletter began in 2006 as an 8-page newspaper called Sokcho News, and since the March 2017 issue, it has been produced as a 24-page booklet under the new title. Currently, it is published monthly with 32 pages per issue.

The number of copies printed has also steadily increased. When the title was changed, 2,000 copies were published; today, that figure has grown by 2.6 times to 5,200 copies. Of these, more than 550 copies, or over 10%, are delivered to subscribers outside the city, serving as a vital bridge to keep former residents and prospective tourists informed about the latest happenings in Sokcho.

Citizens' satisfaction with the newsletter has also risen every year, demonstrating its growing popularity. In a 2021 survey, satisfaction stood at 82.7%. This rose to 85% in 2022, and reached 90% in both 2023 and 2024. The most recent survey last year recorded an all-time high of 92%.

Such achievements are attributed to the strengthening of distinctive content that positions citizens as the main protagonists, moving beyond one-way administrative information delivery. In the recently published April issue, Jung Howon, a Paralympic gold medalist affiliated with the Sokcho City Sports Association for the Disabled, participated as the cover model in celebration of National Disabled Persons Day. In the "People in Sokcho" section, the heartfelt story of citizen Yang Seungho, who overcame an accident to forge a new life, resonated with readers.

Content featuring direct citizen participation is also gaining popularity. Key sections operated based on reader contributions include "Reader Submission," where citizens share their experiences or thoughts; "Kind People in Our Neighborhood," which introduces everyday acts of kindness; "Sokcho Baby," celebrating the birth of new babies; and "Spot the Difference," which adds a playful touch to every issue.

The newsletter also continues to diligently provide essential information on jobs, welfare, and cultural and sports events, faithfully fulfilling its core function.

Sokcho City Newsletter Sokchoholic. Provided by Sokcho City

The city's meticulous administration to enhance information accessibility is also notable. Since 2017, Sokcho City has published a braille newsletter for the visually impaired, and since 2022, a mobile edition has allowed anyone to conveniently access it on their devices. Currently, it is available at any time in the form of a web magazine, e-book, or PDF file via the official website and social media channels, for easy viewing and sharing.

Moving forward, Sokcho City plans to actively leverage Sokchoholic as a bridge for communication, fulfilling citizens' right to know and encouraging their participation in municipal affairs. In particular, the city will actively incorporate citizens' feedback from satisfaction surveys to create an even more useful and accessible newsletter.

Park Eunyoung, Head of Citizen Communication, stated, "Sokchoholic is not only a channel for conveying citizens' voices and sharing city information, but also a valuable record connecting the past and present of Sokcho. We will continue to strengthen communication with citizens through in-depth content that inspires pride among residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.