Winter is the season where we play snow and enjoy the beautiful moment where the land is covered with white snow. South Korea is an Asia country where it did not snow as much as other western countries. But, it still provides a lot of ski resorts and winter parks that provide people to have fun and enjoy winter.
Introduction
So, today, I would like to introduce you to some of the ski resorts that you can visit during winter in South Korea.
When is the right time?
But before that, do you know when is the right time to go skiing in South Korea? Many of the ski resorts in Korea are open from the beginning of December until late March, but peak ski time is during January and February when schools are on their winter break. And the peak is usually during January where students are having their school holidays. If you visit any of the ski resorts during January, the slope would be busier and you might need to queue up for a long time. During winter last year which is the end of 2020, ski resorts in South Korea actually have some slight changes in their operating hours due to Covid-19. And also, they limited the number of people who can enter the ski resort at a certain time.
Should you stay there?
Is it worth going ski and live at the resorts for a few days or is it better to have a one-day trip? I personally think that one day trip is better. You can save a lot of money from the accommodation and those unnecessary expenses. If you are not a professional skier, the sports will be also quite tiring for you and you canโt really ski for a whole day. So why donโt you just visit the resort for one day as it will be easier on your pocket and also allow you to explore a variety of ski parks in Korea as opposed to just one?
Which should you go to?
Now, you need to choose which ski resorts you would like to visit. Many ski resorts near Seoul can be accessed via public transport or shuttles provided by the ski resort. But, as a foreigner, most of the information online is in Korean. It will be super convenient and easy if you know Korean and you can buy anything online. But, if you donโt really speak Korean, no worries too as you can buy your ticket through other apps like Klook or Trazy. Since you just visit the resort for one day, it would be easier for you to organize a Korea ski package through a tour provider. You will save lots of time in finding the directions as well as thinking about the cheapest way to go to the destination.
Since South Korea had hosted the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the country has been put on the map as one of the leading ski destinations in Asia. Korea has quite a lot of ski resorts that provide beginners a super-easy way to learn how to ski before heading to the bigger (and better) slopes of other countries.
Personal opinion
I personally think ski resorts in South Korea are more likely for people who treat skiing as a sport instead of professional activity. Those places are more suitable for family members to spend their valuable time and enjoy the moment together. If you are a professional skier, you might feel a little bit disappointed if you visit ski resorts in South Korea.
Snow quality
The first reason is because of the snow quality. But, if you have never skied before, it would be fantastic heaven for you. On the other hand, if you are a professional experienced skier, then I am sure you had seen something better than this. As mentioned above, South Korea does not have many falls of snow and therefore they only have artificial snows at the resort. Compared to real snow which supposed to be fluffy, the slopes are more likely to be slippery because they are ice and not snow.
No professional slopes
Also, ski resorts in South Korea do not provide long and huge slopes for you to ski from the top of the mountain to the bottom of it. They mostly consist of small slopes where you might feel bored after some time. Therefore, it is strongly recommended for you to visit various kinds of resorts instead of just focusing on one.
Too many people
Next will be the number of visitors. Most of the ski resorts open for only a short period of time in South Korea. Therefore they attract lots of visitors every year. You will find out that the people are really too much until there is no space for you to ski properly sometimes. Also, if you want to use the ski lifter, you will also need to queue for a long time before getting your own turn. So, in order to avoid this, it is really better for you to visit those ski resorts during weekdays and not the holiday period. Then, you can enjoy the facilities to the maximum and also ski without any worries at the slopes.
Bright sides
Fast service
But, there are also some of the bright sides of ski resorts in South Korea. As you know, Korean people tend to do everything at a really fast pace and it is the same when it goes to the ski resorts. The workers there are really nice and they will guide you in English if you donโt know how to speak Korean.
Cafes and restaurants
Also, there are a lot of cafes and restaurants inside the resort where you can have a variety of choices for your meal. The prices are also affordable and worth trying.
Great facilities
The facilities are also well prepared. They have lockers for you to keep your own stuff so you donโt need to take your belongings anywhere you go. It is pretty convenient and saves your energy as well.
You can find quite a lot of ski resorts in South Korea and I personally had my first experience in Konjiam Resort.
Address: 23-1 Doung-ri, Docheok-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Konjiam Resort
The reason why I visited there
The main reason why I choose to go there is that it is the closest resort to nearby Seoul, which only takes about 40 mins from the Gangnam area of Seoul, located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi province. It is the best place if you wish to go skiing within a one-day trip because it is super near to Seoul. You can search for more information about it online if you wish to visit it during this winter holiday.
Since it is my first time visiting a ski resort, I actually choose sledding instead of snowboarding and skiing. The first reason is that no skills needed for sledding. And all you need to do is just sit on the huge tire and just slide down the slopes. It is the most easiest activity and you can see a lot of children having fun with it too. On the other hand, if you are a beginner but you wish to try out skiing and snowboarding, you need a lot of time in exploring the tools and equipments as well as the slopes. It seems to be tiring for me so I choose sledding.
Also, sledding is much cheaper than others. It cost me around 20,000 Won for an hour. And it is cheap compared to skiing or snowboarding which you need to rent the tools, clothes, goggles, and many more.
Conclusion
But, no matter how you choose the sports you wish to have, the ski resort is one of the most bucket lists for you. Especially if you came from a country without a winter season. Enjoy your day at those ski resorts but remember to prioritize your safety too when you having fun there!
