Ready, Set, Ski
Snow Parks Welcome Visitors
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The temperature is dropping along with the length of coat hemlines. But instead of hibernating into a state of immobility at home, dig up the skis and snowboards buried in the back of your closet ― it's time to head to ski resorts, which are now open to provide winter fun.
The slopes are steep and now covered with snow, major ski resort across the country have opened their doors:
Gyeonggi Province
Ski resorts located in the outskirts of Seoul are favored for their proximity.
Jisan Forest Resort
in Icheon (www.jisanresort.co.kr) doesn't have very large slopes but is popular among Seoulites for its convenient facilities and close location. It offers a free shuttle bus service from stops located in different parts of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Call (031) 644-1390~2 to make a reservation.
Yangji Pine Resort
in Yongin (www.pineresort.com) is located amid the stunning landscape of Mt. Dokjo. It hosts the annual National Alpine Ski Competition and offers plenty of exciting courses for skiers and snowboarders. But it's also a great place for families who can enjoy quality time playing on the 150-meter-long sled hill.
Bears Town Resort
in Pocheon (www.bearstown.com) offers Samsung credit card users up to 50 percent discounts on equipment rental fees and ski classes. ``Currently the number of ski packages are up by 5 to 10 percent from last year, so we expect more skiers to visit Bears Town,'' said a staff member of the resort.
Star Hill Resort
in Namyangju (www.starhillresort.com; Korean only) is located only 32 kilometers away from the capital, on Mt. Cheonma.
Konjiam Resort
in Gwangju (www.konjiamresort.co.kr) boasts the largest ski slopes in the metropolitan area, and is only 40 minutes away from southern Seoul. But due to large crowds it became the first resort in the country to enforce a maximum occupancy rule of up to 7,000. English-speaking instructors are available and the state-of-the-art spas are not to be missed. Four slopes are currently open to skiers.
Gangwon Province
The region almost always welcomes the first snowfall in Korea, and naturally is host to some of the largest ski resorts.
Yongpyong Resort
in Pyeongchang (www.yongpyong.co.kr), a city that had bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, is one of the oldest and most famous ski resorts in Korea. It is also one of the largest ski complexes in Asia, with 28 slopes and 15 lifts.
Situated in the heart of Baekdugaegan, it is blessed with an average of 250 centimeters of snowfall per season. This is where the popular TV series ``Winter Sonata'' was filmed.
It takes about two hours by car to get there. There is also a shuttle bus that runs between Pyeongchang and Seoul (26,000 won for round trip, 14,000 won for one-way).
Daemyung Vivaldi Park
in Hongcheon (www.daemyungcondo.com) was the first resort here to open its slopes 24 hours a day. Serious skiers and snowboarders can enjoy maximum thrills here, where slopes (which have names such as Hip-Hop and Techno) have pipes, steep slopes and many winding routes. Visitors can also enjoy Ocean World, a water theme park located in the underground level of the resort that is open throughout the year. Another special feature is that condos are located right next to the ski slopes.
Phoenix Park
in Pyeongchang (www.phoenixpark.co.kr) particularly caters to snowboarders, from beginners to highflying professionals. Built along the natural topography of Mt. Taegi, it has mini slopes for beginners while serious snowboarders can enjoy Extreme Park, which is equipped with various features that ensure maximum thrills. The park also invites top DJs for its mostly young clientele.
Hyundai Sungwoo Resort
in Hoengseong (www.hdsungwoo.co.kr) is another favorite spot among snowboarders. The 20 slopes, which were designed by a Canadian company, are open 24 hours a day. Among them is a snowboard course approved by the International Ski Federation. An exclusive pipe boardwalk has been installed to allow convenient access to the top of the pipe.
Elysian Gangchon Resort
in Chuncheon (www.elysian.co.kr; Korean only) is located only an hour away from Seoul, in full view of the picturesque Bukhan River. It is fully equipped with snow machines so that skiers can enjoy white snow-covered fields all throughout the season. Its nine slopes invite beginners to advanced skiers. A free train and shuttle service is available.
Hansol Oak Valley Snow Park
in Wonju (www.oakvalley.co.kr) is relatively small with only nine slopes, but is perfect for those looking for a less crowded venue. Visitors can also enjoy the water park, sculpture park and swimming pool located in the resort. A shuttle bus leaves from Apgujeong Station on subway line 3 and Jamsil Station on subway lines 2 and 8 everyday.
North Jeolla Province
Muju Resort
in Muju (www.mujuresort.com) is another one of the most popular ski destinations in the country. It is located in Gucheong-dong Valley, at the base of Mt. Deokyu, one of Korea's beautiful national parks. It also has some of the longest and steepest slopes as well as an amusement park, among other features. The TV series ``Summer Scent'' was filmed here.
Tip:
Those particularly prone to frost bite should stock up on pocket warmers before heading to the slopes. Battery and electric-charged ones can be purchased online for around 40,000 won. Touch Stone pocket warmers for example not only look like a cell phone but also double as a cell phone charger.