Its Okay to Not Be Okay Locations: Goseong Day Trip

Standing on the grassy hillside of Secret Blue Cafe while watching turquoise waves crash against Ayajin Beach, you instantly understand why the production team chose Gangwon Province’s quiet northern coast. There is a soothing, restorative energy along this shoreline that mirrors Moon Gang-tae and Ko Mun-yeong’s journey toward healing.

Released in 2020, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아) captivated international fans with its fairy-tale aesthetic, honest exploration of mental health, and tender romance. While Ko Mun-yeong’s dramatic mansion required heavy digital editing and set builds elsewhere, the heart of the show’s real-world physical landscape belongs to Goseong County (고성군). Located directly north of Sokcho along South Korea’s northeast coast, Goseong provided the sweeping ocean vistas, colorful seaside roads, and quiet harbor walls that defined the drama’s second half. This guide walks you through the exact coastal spots you can visit on an easy day trip from Seoul or Sokcho.

Plan Your Visit

Use this summary table to plan your trip budget and timeline. Please verify operating hours, bus schedules, and access details before visiting.

Area / Transit Line	Rough Time Needed	Rough Budget
Seoul to Sokcho (Intercity Bus)	2 to 2.5 hours (one way)	~₩15,000–₩25,000 (one way)
Sokcho to Ayajin (Bus No. 1/1-1 or Taxi)	15 to 25 minutes	~₩1,500 (bus) / ~₩15,000 (taxi)
Goseong Drama Spots Tour	4 to 6 hours	~₩10,000–₩30,000 (cafe & food)

Secret Blue Cafe (OK Psychiatric Hospital)

In the drama, this location serves as the exterior, grassy courtyard, and cliffside ocean lookout for OK Psychiatric Hospital, the fictional facility where Moon Gang-tae works as a caregiver and director Oh Ji-wang offers unconventional wisdom. It is where characters sit on wooden benches to converse against the backdrop of the sea.

In real life, this spacious property is Secret Blue (시크릿블루), a large bakery cafe featuring a multi-story main building, manicured lawn, and glass windows overlooking the East Sea. While the hospital sign and medical props were removed after filming wrapped, the overall architecture, lush garden, and hilltop view of Ayajin Beach remain identical to what you see on screen. Visitors can order coffee, pastries, and outdoor picnic sets while enjoying the exact view Gang-tae admired during his break shifts. Please note that operating hours and bakery menus change seasonally, so it is best to verify their current schedule online before making the trip.

How to get there

From Seoul, take an intercity bus from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal (Gangbyeon Station, Line 2) or Express Bus Terminal (Lines 3, 7, 9) to Sokcho Intercity Bus Terminal. The journey takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. From Sokcho Terminal, cross the street to the local bus stop and board Bus No. 1 or 1-1 heading north toward Goseong. Ride for roughly 20 to 25 minutes and get off at the Ayajin-ri (아야진리) stop. Walk five minutes uphill toward the ocean bluff to reach the cafe. Alternatively, a taxi from Sokcho Terminal directly to Secret Blue takes under 15 minutes.

Ayajin Beach & Rainbow Sea Wall

This shoreline is the backdrop for several memorable seaside walks, playful moments, and emotional conversations between Gang-tae, Mun-yeong, and Sang-tae as they gradually form their unique family unit.

Ayajin Beach (아야진해수욕장) is famous across Gangwon Province for its clear, shallow waters, smooth rock formations, and bright rainbow-painted concrete barriers along the coastal road. Unlike the bustling, high-rise-lined beaches of Gangneung or Busan, Ayajin maintains the authentic feel of a quiet coastal village. You can walk along the concrete blocks, explore the shallow rocky tide pools where small crabs hide, or sit on the clean sand listening to the waves.

How to get there

Ayajin Beach is located directly below Secret Blue Cafe. From the cafe entrance, follow the pedestrian footpath down the slope toward the ocean for three minutes. You will arrive immediately at the rainbow barrier blocks and sandy shoreline.

Ayajin Port & Red Lighthouse

This location features in coastal driving sequences and tranquil evening walks when the main characters travel along the northern Gangwon coastline.

Ayajin Port (아야진항) is a functional fishing harbor located at the northern edge of the beach cove. Here, small wooden fishing vessels bob in the water alongside squid-drying racks and local seafood stalls. A long concrete breakwater extends out into the ocean, anchored by a vivid red lighthouse that creates a striking visual contrast against the deep blue water and grey rocks.

How to get there

From Ayajin Beach, walk north along the ocean road (Ayajinhae-an-gil) for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Follow the curve of the shoreline past the local seafood restaurants until you reach the harbor piers and the red lighthouse breakwater path.

Cheongganjeong Pavilion

This historic forest lookout framed the dramatic ocean scenery during transitional scenes showing the rugged, natural beauty of Goseong’s coastline.

Cheongganjeong Pavilion (청간정) is recognized as one of the eight scenic treasures of the eastern Gwandong region. Set high atop a rocky cliff surrounded by ancient pine trees, this traditional wooden pavilion offers sweeping vistas of the East Sea where freshwater streams meet the ocean tide. It provides a peaceful, shaded retreat with sweeping views of the coast stretching north toward Ayajin.

How to get there

From Ayajin Beach, board local Bus No. 1 or 1-1 heading south toward Sokcho for two stops, disembarking at Cheonggan-ri (청간리). Follow the marked wooden boardwalk through the pine grove for five minutes up to the pavilion vantage point.

Make a Day of It

Goseong and neighboring Sokcho offer fantastic regional dishes and coastal attractions that pair perfectly with a drama tour. Because Ayajin sits right on the border between Sokcho and Goseong, you can easily combine these locations into a rich, full-day itinerary without feeling rushed.

Start your morning early by taking the intercity bus from Seoul to Sokcho. Once you arrive, head straight to Ayajin Beach to enjoy Secret Blue Cafe during the quiet morning hours when light hits the ocean front-on. After exploring the bakery grounds, walk down to the beach and rainbow wall for photos before strolling north along the coastal road to Ayajin Port.

For lunch, sample local Gangwon specialties. The region is famous for mulhoe (chilled raw fish soup served in a spicy, tangy broth with noodles) and abai sundae (squid stuffed with minced meat, vegetables, and rice). Many seafood eateries line the road between Ayajin Port and Cheongganjeong Pavilion.

Location	Travel Time from Sokcho	Best Highlight
Secret Blue Cafe	15 min taxi / 25 min bus	OK Hospital grounds & ocean view
Ayajin Beach	3 min walk from cafe	Rainbow sea wall & clean sand
Ayajin Port	12 min walk from beach	Red lighthouse & harbor views
Cheongganjeong	5 min bus from Ayajin	Pine tree forest & historical cliff view

In the late afternoon, catch Bus No. 1 back into central Sokcho to visit the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market (commonly called Sokcho Jungang Market). Here, try the famous sweet-and-spicy fried chicken bites (dakgangjeong) before heading to the Sokcho Express Bus Terminal for your return trip to Seoul.

Photo Tips

To recreate the show’s soft, fairy-tale visual style, timing and camera positioning make all the difference:

• Secret Blue Cafe Lawn: Frame your photo from the back lawn looking toward the wooden bench and ocean horizon. Position the main cafe building slightly to the side to capture the blue ocean backdrop featured in hospital garden scenes.
• Rainbow Sea Wall: Sit on one of the painted concrete blocks with your back partially to the camera, looking down the curved coastline. Use a lower angle to capture the bright color sequence against the clear blue sky.
• Best Time of Day: Early afternoon (between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM) offers the bright sunlight across the East Sea, making the water sparkle. Golden hour (around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM in spring/summer) produces warm light perfect for portraits along the harbor breakwater.

Fan Checklist

• Recommended Route Order: Secret Blue Cafe (OK Hospital grounds) → Ayajin Beach (Rainbow Sea Wall) → Ayajin Port (Red Lighthouse) → Cheongganjeong Pavilion.
• Cafe Etiquette: Secret Blue Cafe is a private business; please order a drink or bakery item before using the outdoor grounds or taking photos on the lawn.
• Local Community Respect: Ayajin Port is an active fishing community; remain respectful, keep noise low during evening walks, and dispose of litter in designated bins.
• Safety Reminders: Exercise caution when walking along slippery rocks near tide pools or along breakwaters during rough surf.

FAQ

Can you visit the OK Psychiatric Hospital building in real life?

Yes, the location used for the hospital exterior is Secret Blue Cafe in Goseong. While the interior hospital scenes were filmed on custom studio sets, the outdoor grounds, lawn, and ocean views are completely real and open to the public.

Key Takeaways

• Goseong County serves as the central filming region for the seaside and hospital scenes in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
• Secret Blue Cafe offers the real-world lawn and hilltop backdrop used for OK Psychiatric Hospital in the drama.
• Ayajin Beach, Ayajin Port, and Cheongganjeong Pavilion form an easy, contiguous day-trip route directly accessible from Sokcho.
• Early to mid-afternoon light provides optimal conditions for capturing the colorful coastal scenery and ocean views.

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