Ski Resorts in South Korea : Gyeonggi-do

Konjiam Ski Resort
Official website

Konjiam Resort is easily accessible from Seoul Metropolitan Area

• 40 minutes away from Gangnam, Seoul. 
• largest ski trail in the Seoul Metropolitan Area, 
• a condominium with 476 rooms, a spa, and wine cave. 
• Operating the nation’s first slope membership system and its online reservation system. 
• Overcome overcrowded ski slope problem by enforcing Korea’s first maximum occupancy rule - up to 7,000 guests.
• Free shuttle bus is available

Contact: (031) 8026-5000

Magic Show at Konjiam Ski Resort

Directions :
Paid Shuttle Bus :

From exit 1 at Gangbyeon Station take bus number 1113-1, from exit 6 at Jamsil Station take number 500-1, OR From exit 3 of Gangnam Station take bus number 500-2. Get off at Gonjiam Terminal
After that, take a taxi to Konjiam Resort (ride 10~15 mins, about 8,000 to 10,000 won).
Gangbyeon and Gangnam station is in Line 2, Green.
Total travel time for one way ~ 2 hours

Free Shuttle Bus :
From Gangnam - For more information Or Reservation 02-739-0011
07:10 at Apgujeong Station (Exit No.6 / in front of the public parking lot)
07:30 at Gangnam Station (Exit No.3 / 200m away to mutual savings bank)

From Gangdong - For more information Or Reservation 031-798-5588

07:10 / 11:10 / 19:35 / 16:50 / 23:10 at Samseong Station (Exit No.1 / ‘NH’ Bank) 

07:20 / 11:20 / 19:45 / 17:00 / 23:20 at Jamsil Olympic Stadium Station (Exit No.1)

From Jung-gu - For more information Or Reservation 02-739-0011

07:00 Sinchon Station (Exit No.5 / in front of ‘Woori’Bank)
07:15 Gwanghwamun (in front of Sejong Center)
07:20 City Hall Station (Exit No.3 / away to the City Council Hall)
07:25 Itaewon (across the street ‘Crown’ Hotel)

For more information on free shuttle bus: Bus

Bears Town
Official website

Snowboarding lesson in Bear's Town

Bears Town Resort is located an hour away from Seoul

• The only resort in the Seoul-Pocheon-Hwacheon line. 
• The road to the resort rarely suffers from traffic during the winter season, unlike those in Gangwon Province, and its favorable location earned it the nickname, “Ski Resort for the Public.” 
• Members who sign up on the website can purchase their lift tickets at the 40% discounted price. 
• Free lift tickets are offered for every purchase of five tickets. 
• Overnight ski program on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. 
• The ski slopes open at 4:00 AM. 
• The ski slopes of this large-scale leisure resort have been officially approved by the International Ski Federation. 
• Bears Town Resort is a great destination for beginners
• Comprehensive rental system allows you to rent all the equipment you need. 
• More experienced skiers will enjoy the FIS approved 88 Challenger Slope. 
• It also offers snow sledding slopes which is ideal for family with small children.
• Getting to Bears Town Resort from Seoul couldn’t be easier, as the resort provides a free shuttle bus (reservations required). 

Contact: (031) 540-5000

Direction: 
Paid Shuttle Bus 

1-Take Bus No. 707 in front of Cheongnyangni train Station, and get off at Gwangneungnae. Change to bus No.7.5.1001 and get off at Bears Town Ski Resort. 


2-Take bus No. 1001 at Gangbyeon station(subway line 2) and get off at Bears Town Ski Resort. 


3-Take bus at Inchon, Su-won, An-san express bus terminal and get off at Naecheon. Change to bus No.5,7,33,1001 and get off at Bears Town Ski Resort. 
Only from Monday to Thursday

Free Shuttle Bus
For more information Or Reservation Seoul Geumsung Tour ( 02-741-2202 )

Jongno Area
0800 / 1600 / 1920 - Euljiro ipgu Station Exit 3, Korea Herald School Front
0805 / 1620 / 1925 - Jonggak Station Exit 4 Bosingak Front

Jamsil Area
0820 / 1620 / 1900 - Sports complex Station Exit 2 Front
0825 / 1625 / 1905 - Jamsil Station Lottemart, Lotteworld Front

Gangnam Area
1840 - Gangnam Station Exit 1 BusStation Front
0800 / 1610 - Gangnam Station Exit 3 Hanabank BusStation Front
1850 - Seolleung Station Shangjeri Building Front BusStation

Sinchon Area
0800 - City hall Station Deoksugung Deahanmun Front
0805 - Chungjeongno Station Exit 2

Jisan Forest Resort
Official website

Night Skiing and Snowboarding at Jisan

Located in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do Province, Jisan Forest Resort is close to Seoul and is especially suited for those looking for a one-day ski getaway.

• There is an escalator for children and beginners. The new 6-person lift is equipped with heated seats for a warm, comfortable ride. 
• Jisan Resort is popular among office workers who want to enjoy one-day ski trips during the weekdays since it is adjacent to Seoul. 
• Operates a special parking lot that can accommodate over 200 cars for women. 
• Operates diverse discount programs for people on their birthdays, freshmen, campus couples, young adults, gentlemen, and career women.
• Provide free shuttle bus

Near to Icheon World Ceramic Center. Read my post here when I visited the Ceramic Center with Mi Hyeon.

Contact: (031) 638-8460

Directions:
1.Bus runs every 20 minutes from Dong Seoul Bus Terminal to Icheon coach bus terminal. Then take Bus No. 12 from Icheon and get off at Jisan Resort.(40 min )
2.Take City Coach Bus No.9800 at Gangnam Station(exit No.3) or Yangjae Station(Yangjae bus station).
(between 9:00~13:00 every hour/ 15:00/16:00/17:30/19:00/20:00)

Free Shuttle Bus
Make reservation at the homepage but only if you have Korean friend to assist.
However, you can directly call to reserve a seat at 031-644-1390~2

Yangji Pine Resort

Official website

Yangji Pine Resort’s highest-grade ski run is the Challenger Course, where the yearly ‘National Alpine Ski Competition’ takes place.

• Skiers can enjoy skiing day and night by using the free shuttles. 
• This resort introduced the nation’s first mileage program, and 1.5% of the sales amount is accumulated as mileage. Mileages of over 5,000 points may be used like cash at the resort. 
• Yangji Pine Resort also operates various discount programs, including 30% discounts on lift fees and 50% discounts on rental fees for volunteers and blood donors. 
• The discount programs also target local residents, people on their birthdays, students, freshmen, soldiers, and couples visiting the resort on Valentine’s Day.
• Many enjoyable programs for skiers and snowboarders, such as training courses, a snowboarding competition, and a snow-boarding show presented by pro riders.

Near to Everland and Yongin Korean Folk Village. Read my post on my visit to Yongin Korean Folk Village here.

Contact: (031) 338-2001

Directions:
Paid shuttle bus:

1.From Seoul Nambu Terminal, take an express bus and get off at Yongin or Yangji (first 06:15 / last 20:10 / 20 min interval). Take a free shuttle bus there.
2.In front of Yongin Bus Terminal, take bus No. 10 or direct bus to Yangji (20 min ride). Then take a taxi to the ski resort (10 min ride).

Free Shuttle bus:
From Gangnam
0710 Chosun Hotel frontdoor
0750 / 1100 Apgujeong station exit 6
0810 / 1120 / 1600(only weekends) / 1820(only weekdays) Gangnam station exit 3
0820 / 1130 / 1620(only weekends) / 1830(only weekdays) Yangjae station exit 7

From Jamsil
0800 Samseong station exit 1
0820 Jamsil station, Lotte Mart

From Sinchon
0740 Sinchon station exit 5
0800 City Hall station exit 2

Click here for more information on free shuttle bus from Seoul
Click here for more information on free shuttle bus from Yongin

Free Skiing trend in Korea

Source: Gyeonggi do Tourism, KNTO and Youtube

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Ski Resorts in South Korea : Gangwondo

My favourite season will always be autumn but winter is no better. Most Malaysians dream of going to Korea because of Hallyu wave, thanks to Bae Yong Jun from Winter Sonata 겨울 연가 and to experience different season, of course. ^^

As my friend Yani once told me; "I want to see snow in Christmas!". She had it lucky because surprisingly it snowed on Christmas 2009. White Christmas!! She was amazed and imitated Choi Ji Woo in Winter Sonata, opening her palm waiting for the first snow.

If you want to experience winter in Korea, I bet that it won't be perfect without skiing or snowboarding at any one of these famous resorts. There are two famous provinces to visit during winter in South Korea:  Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do. Most of the ski resorts are located here.

For now, this post will explain about Ski resorts in Gangwon-do only. Another post will cover Gyeonggi-do's.

Yongpyong Ski Resort

This is one of the filming locations for Winter Sonata. Yu-jin's company, Polaris, and Min-hyeong's (Kang Jun Sang) company sign a contract to work on the same design project at the Dragon Valley Ski Resort. The resort offers a tour for Winter Sonata fan. You can check the details here.

Click the link below for:
Official site
Rental price
Lift price
Lesson price
Resort guide map
Accommodation Reservation : Hotel

How to go:
By Shuttle Bus
Daewon Express Bus(=Purple ski bus),Tel. 82-2-575-7710, 82-2-2201-7710 (ENGLISH)
0900 - at Lotte Mart, Gate#4 of Jamsil Station (Subway Line 2)
1300 -  Gate#2 of Sports Complexs Station(Subway Line 2) - Sunday Only

One Way ￦ 15,000(Adult) / ￦ 12,000(Child)
Round Trip ￦ 28,000(Adult) / ￦ 22,000(Child)

By Public Express Bus from Seoul
Take a bus from Gangbyeon Station (Line 2) to Hwenggye
Donghae Express Bus - Eastern Seoul Terminal (02-458-4854~7) http://ti21.co.kr/
One way        ￦ 15,000(Adult)

From Hwenggye Bus Terminal, take free shuttle bus to Yongpyong Resort (12 times a day / 10 min ride)
* 4:40am, 5:40am, 6:30am, 7:30am, 8:10am, 10:30am, 12:00am, 2:00pm, 4:20pm, 5:30pm, 11:30pm

Phoenix Ski Resort 

The resort offers a total of seventeen slopes, four of which are approved by the FIS (International Ski Federation), and has superb snow quality. Particularly popular is the ‘Panorama Slope’, which is an impressive 2.2km long and has an average width of 46meters. Eight ski lifts, state-of-the-art gondolas, and six conveyer belts transport visitors around the park quickly and efficiently.

Click the link below for:
Official site
Accommodation : Youth Hostel , Condo, Hotel

How to go:
Express, Public Bus
Dong Seoul - Jangpyeong 6:20AM-6:55PM (departs every 30min)

Nearby Tourism Attractions
Odaesan (Woljeongsa Temple) - I visited this temple when I Wwoofed in Santisuk, Jinbu. Check out my post here.

Gangwon Folk Museum, Jeongdongjin Beach, Gyeongpodae Beach, etc.

Tips: 

1- I recommend renting a motel/guesthouse near Yongpyong area. You could rent a 50,000 won motel per night and accommodate 5 to 6 people inside. Depends on your comfortability level. For me, it's all about enjoying snowboarding/skiing that matters most. Sleep comes second. ^^ 

2- There are lots of ski/snowboard rental shops around Yongpyong area and they offer cheaper rental rate than the resort.

3- Normally the ski/snowboard rental shops offer free shuttle van to the resort if you rent equipments with them. Just ask the counter for the free lift. 

4- Don't forget to bring a few chocolate bars with you. When you slide down the slopes you will be hungry in no time especially in cold weather.

5- If you have a Korean friend, they could get the lift/admission and rental price cheaper using their Korean credit cards up to 40-50% off. 

Adhoc Budget : A group tour budget (5-6 people) 

*assuming that you don't need ski/snowboard lesson ~50,000 won

Bus Seoul (Return) to Yeongpyong - 24,000 won

A night stay in motel/guesthouse - 20,000 won

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner - 30,000 won

Rental (Day + Night) - 35,000 won

Lift (whole day) - 90,000 won

Estimated Total : ~199,000 won per person

Buy snowboarding equipments from Gmarket.
AsiaNews about Snowboarding in Korea
Check out reviews from snowboarders who had visited the resorts: Andrewaka22

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