White Snow in the Land of Kimchi

Skiing from Gangwon-do to … Seoul

Lasting from about November to February of the following year, winter in Korea is much colder and drier than in tropical countries like Vietnam, with temperatures always below zero, even down to minus 6 degrees Celsius in January. Right from the first days of winter, ski resorts have been bustling to welcome visitors from all over the world. If Gangwon-do, with its heavy snowfall, is the area with the most concentrated ski resorts in Korea, the suburbs of Seoul are especially popular with tourists who have a short vacation and are reluctant to travel far.

Gangwon-do

Hidden behind the mountains at an altitude of 700m above sea level, Alpensia Resort is famous for its quality snow and stunning views of the majestic Daegwallyeong Mountain Range. Designed with 6 ski runs suitable for different levels of skiers of all ages, the resort can accommodate 3,000 people playing in the vast white snow. Alpensia became the focus not only for domestic tourists but also tourists and sports enthusiasts around the world when it was chosen as the main venue for the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Don't miss the opportunity to see and experience the special facilities used in the upcoming Olympic season.

Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski World is the first resort in Korea to offer night skiing. With slopes named after “teenagers” such as Hip-hop, Techno or Funky, this ski resort is especially popular with young visitors. The unexpected turns on the slopes never disappoint adventure enthusiasts. Daemyung Vivaldi Park Ski World is dedicated to beginners, the perfect area to safely experience the sport. All you have to do is choose a slope with the right slope and practice to try other challenging slopes.

Situated right next to the oak forest, Oak Valley Snow Park is smaller than most other winter ski resorts in Korea. This gives the resort a cozy and friendly feel, far from the crowded tourist areas. It is one of the best parks for snowboarders, as it has a wide open space that is perfect for trying out new techniques.

Seoul

Konjiam is the largest ski resort in the Seoul vicinity with 9 ski runs of varying difficulty. To ensure the most enjoyable skiing experience, Konjiam limits the number of visitors to 7,000 per day. The waiting time for each ski run is less than 15 minutes. This is considered the most ideal resort for families because 70% of the ski runs are easy and medium. Coming here, visitors also have the opportunity to enjoy other facilities such as nurseries, ecological rivers, spas, etc.

A 40-minute drive from Gangnam, Seoul, Jisan Forest Resort in Icheon-si is always on the list of favorite ski destinations for tourists even when rooms are full during peak seasons. Thanks to 5 high-speed lifts, visitors no longer have to wait in line to reach the top of the slopes. Although the resort is quite small, it is fully equipped with all modern amenities, promising to bring great experiences at a reasonable price "worth every penny".

Does ice and snow hibernate?

Winter in Korea is never boring and ice and snow are the "main characters" that create unique winter festivals in this country.

The Taebaeksan Snow Festival, with its large exhibition area at Dangol Square, will welcome you with unique ice sculptures of various themes. Take photos with your family, especially your little angels, next to the beautiful ice sculptures and capture the "warm" happy moments with the ice and snow, or join the ice festival by Hwangji Lake where the lights from the artworks compete with the sparkling stars. In addition, at the festival, visitors can participate in many interactive programs such as sledding, skiing with dogs, and many other exciting activities. Taebaeksan deserves to be considered the best winter entertainment place with memorable experiences for adults and magical dreams for children.

While autumn fishing is often mentioned in Asian poetry as a tranquil experience, winter fishing in Korea is unique and exciting in its own way with thick layers of ice covering the surface of many rivers and streams. Are you ready to wade into the freezing cold water and catch fish with your hands or dig small holes in the ice and leisurely drop your line and wait for the fish to bite? Visit and participate in two unique festivals, Hwacheon Sancheoneo and Inje Icefish, where you can try these experiences. Ice fish lovers can taste this dish and even participate in a fish-eating contest. If you are not interested in cold fish, you can play ice bowling, ice soccer, and … tug-of-war on ice.

Relaxing in the cold season

If skiing on the white mountains or participating in winter festivals is not attractive enough, choose for yourself a quieter journey, visiting famous tourist destinations in Korea. If Jeongdogjin offers couples the most romantic sunrise, Daegwallyeong Samyang Ranch is the largest highland pasture in Asia where you can see herds of dairy cows leisurely on the endless green grasslands. Another special tourist destination this winter is Gyeongpo Provincial Park with Gyeongpo Lake where many swans gather and Gyeongpo Beach - one of the cleanest beaches on the east coast. Strolling along the beach in the afternoon and stopping to enjoy fresh seafood when the cold winds start to strengthen is one of the memorable experiences here.

These wonderful experiences will surely make your winter trip an unforgettable memory. Let’s travel to the beautiful country of Korea in winter to create those memorable memories!

Article: Thuy Linh. Photo: KTO

The Thanh