Skiing in Korea: ski resorts near Seoul, shuttle buses, rentals and night skiing

TUREFF• •0

Korea is not the first country people think of for skiing, but it has a busy ski scene with well-groomed slopes, night skiing and resorts close enough to Seoul for a day trip. The mountains are smaller and the snow is mostly man-made, so it is ideal for beginners and for fitting a few days on the slopes into a winter visit.

The season

Korean resorts usually open from late November or early December and run until around March, with the exact dates depending on the weather and snowmaking. The coldest and most reliable stretch is late December to February. Weekends and the school holidays are very busy; weekdays are much quieter.

Resorts near Seoul (about one hour)

Konjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi-do, is one of the closest to the city and popular for day trips.
Jisan Forest Resort in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, is around an hour from Seoul and has many beginner-friendly runs.
Elysian Gangchon in Chuncheon is unusual in being reachable by rail: Baegyang-ri Station on the Gyeongchun Line is right by the entrance, and ITX-Cheongchun trains from Seoul make the trip in about an hour.

Gangwon-do resorts (about 1.5 to 3 hours)

Vivaldi Park in Hongcheon, about an hour and a half from Seoul, is large and very popular, with lots of beginner slopes.
Welli Hilli Park in Hoengseong.
Phoenix Pyeongchang, which hosted freestyle and snowboard events at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
Mona Yongpyong (often still called Yongpyong Resort) in Pyeongchang, Korea's first modern ski resort and one of the biggest.
Alpensia in Pyeongchang, smaller and next to the Olympic venues.
High1 Resort in Jeongseon, a large resort high in the mountains.
O2 Resort in Taebaek.

Further south, Muju Deogyusan in Jeonbuk (North Jeolla) and Eden Valley near Yangsan, convenient from Busan, also operate.

Check before you go

Resorts here do close, rename or skip seasons. Bears Town in Pocheon, once a common day trip from Seoul, has not opened in recent seasons. Before booking anything, check the resort's own website or recent news for the current season's opening dates and status, especially for older or smaller resorts.

Getting there: shuttle buses

Most resorts run seasonal shuttle buses from several pickup points in Seoul. They usually need booking in advance, often through the resort's website or a Korean booking app. Travel agencies aimed at foreign visitors also sell shuttle seats and day packages to resorts such as Vivaldi Park, with pickups near Hongik University and Myeongdong, sometimes bundled with rental and a lesson. Driving is possible, but mountain roads can be icy and weekend traffic out of Seoul is heavy.

Rentals

You can rent skis or boards, boots and helmets at the resort itself, or at the many independent rental shops on the roads leading to each resort. Independent shops are often cheaper and many also rent ski clothing, which is useful for visitors who have not packed any. Bring your passport or ID, as shops often ask for it as a deposit or for registration. Day tours usually stop at a rental shop on the way.

Night skiing

Night skiing is a big part of Korean ski culture. Many resorts light their slopes after dark, and some sessions run until around midnight or later. Slopes often close for an hour or so in the late afternoon for grooming before the night session opens. It is a good way to ski after work, and night tickets are usually sold separately from day tickets.

Tips for foreign visitors

Several of the larger resorts offer lessons in English; book ahead, especially on weekends.
Lift passes are commonly sold by session (morning, afternoon, night) or in hours, as well as by the day.
Slopes are crowded on weekends, so control your speed and watch for beginners stopping suddenly.
Bring a T-money card and cash for buses and small shops, though cards are widely accepted at resorts.

Our Seoul in winter guide covers the rest of a cold-weather visit. Have you skied in Korea? Share your favourite resort or ask a question in the comments.