The Best Ski Resorts in Korea

I’m often asked which is the best ski resort in Korea, and I always answer that it depends what you’re looking for. So here’s the lowdown on the best ski resorts in Korea, presented in top-3s:

Best All-Round Korean Ski Resorts

High1, view from the gondola

High1

=1. High1 & Yongpyong

For all-mountain riding, High1 and Yongpyong are the two best ski resorts in Korea. Yongpyong was the original (built in the 70s), while High1 is just a decade old. Both are high enough to not be as reliant on snowmaking as most Korean ski resorts, are relatively large, have a good mix of terrain, and make reasonable effort with their terrain parks.

3. Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is mostly famed for its freestyle offerings, with a halfpipe and the country’s best terrain park (see below). Freestyle aside, Phoenix Park is also the 4th-largest ski area in Korea; this means it offers decent downhill skiing in addition to great freestyle, making it a good all-round option.

Best Korean Ski Resorts for Freestyle

Terrain park at Welli Hilli

Welli Hilli Park

1. Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park has the biggest & best terrain park in Korea, well-maintained with kickers and jib features for all levels and one of only two halfpipes in the country. It was no surprise that Phoenix Park was chosen to host the freestyle events for the Pyeongchang Olympics.

2. Welli Hilli Park

Welli Hilli Park is the other standout in the freestyle department with an advanced park and a beginner-intermediate park running down either side of the beginner slope, served by the Alpha chairs which enable you to do rapid laps of the park. It also has Korea’s other halfpipe, which is the closest pipe to Seoul since Vivaldi Park got rid of theirs.

3. Yongpyong

Yongpyong is a great all-round resort, and they don’t neglect their freestyle offerings. While not quite as impressive as the parks at Phoenix and Welli Hilli, the Yongpyong terrain park is of decent size and quality while being perfectly positioned in a nice sheltered spot next to a chairlift.

I should also mention High1 here, which is another great all-round resort with a decent park; only problem is the fairly exposed location on a ridge, meaning you often have to deal with pretty strong winds blowing across.

These resorts are all quite far out from Seoul – if you’re looking for a decent terrain park closer to Seoul, Jisan is your best bet.

Best Korean Resorts for Downhill Skiing

On the slopes at Muju Deogyusan Resort, Korea

Muju Deogyusan

1. Muju Deogyusan

The southern location isn’t great for the snow quality, but Muju Deogyusan has the biggest vertical drop and the longest runs of any ski resort in Korea. The setting in Deogyusan National Park also gives it the best views!

2. High1

All-round star resorts High1 and Yongpyong don’t quite match Muju Deogyusan for vertical drop, but they’re not far off and both offer a good selection of sections and runs. They also both get better snow than Muju so will often actually be better, especially early or late in the season. I rate High1’s downhill skiing slightly better than Yongpyong’s as the layout at High1 allows for a better range of top-to-bottom options – the runs come down from the ridges on opposite sides of a valley, all eventually funnelling down to Valley house at the bottom. Some of them are genuinely steep which is rare in Korea, so High1 will be more satisfying for advanced skiers & riders.

3. Yongpyong

Yongpyong is a similar size to High1, but the layout is a little disjointed – there’s only one full top-to-bottom run (from the gondola) and it has a fairly gentle gradient (though still quite fun for advanced riders with a bunch of corners to carve). There are good steeps in the Rainbow section, but they’re accessed only via the gondola and cut off from the rest of the resort. For lower level and intermediate levels, Yongpyong has a better range than High1 and usually less challenging conditions i.e. not as icy & windy.

Most Convenient Ski Resorts from Seoul (without a car)

Oak Valley

Oak Valley

1. Oak Valley

With a free shuttle from Sports Complex Station taking just 75 minutes in good traffic and no reservations required (you can just turn up and board the bus), Oak Valley is super convenient and a decent size for the short travel time. Note: Oak Valley aren’t running their main chairlift any more, so I recommend Elysian or Vivaldi instead.

2. Elysian Gangchon

Although located in Gangwon-do province, Elysian Gangchon can be reached on the Seoul Metro or the ITX Cheongchun express train. With regular shuttle buses from the station to the resort, this again means no reservations are required and you can head out there at whatever time suits you.

3. Vivaldi Park

Vivaldi Park is another Gangwon-do resort which is actually very convenient to Seoul, thanks in particular to their free shuttle bus for international tourists. It takes 90 minutes from Myeongdong and costs you nothing, just make sure to make your shuttle bus reservation 2 days in advance as required. Vivaldi Park is the biggest hill you can reach from Seoul for free without a season pass.

Olympic halfpipe & snowboard cross setup at Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park during the Pyeongchang Olympics

Any questions about the best ski resorts in Korea? Leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.

Also see here for full reviews of every ski resort in Korea, and here for the biggest ski resort in Korea using satellite imagery.

If you’re looking for Pyeongchang 2018 accommodation options, see here


85 comments on “The Best Ski Resorts in Korea
  1. Weian says:

    I’m planning to stay at Yongpyong ski resort right before April 2018
    Is there still open for ski and how about snow conditions then
    It would make my life much easier if u got d answer
    Thanks lot

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Weian, if you go to Yongpyong in late March they’ll still be open. The snow condition will be pretty mushy, and the best sections are already closed due to the Olympics, but anyway you can still have a decent day of skiing there. Enjoy!

  2. Vidya says:

    Hi . Would Vivaldi Park have snowboarding/skiing in the last week of March 2018 ? Because of the proximity to Seoul as compared to Yongpyong looking at it. Thx

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Vidya, sorry they closed on March 11th. Your best chance in late March is High1, but I’m not sure their exact closing date so make sure to check with them. Good luck!

  3. Teeya says:

    Hi I plan to go to a ski resort around 30th December 2018 and we will be staying at an apartment in Itaewon. Which ski resort is the easiest to go to by bus or subway?

  4. Eng Khoon says:

    Hi Simon,
    Your site are wonderful! I get lots of information about Korea ski here. Thanks for all efforts!
    I’m planning Korea ski trip with my children (8 and 10) in Dec 2018, I would like to get your advice that which ski resort is best suitable for children and not too expensive. My initial plan is YongPyong Ski Resort as the room rate is reasonable, there is water playground for children and highly recommended by many bloggers. Beside that, it is out of Seoul which I think will not be too crowded.

    Many Thanks
    Eng Khoon

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Eng,

      Thanks! Yes, I think Yongpyong’s a good choice for you. Let me know if you have any questions about it

      • Eng Khoon says:

        Thanks Simon for quick respond! Appreciate that.
        Do we need to book the ski lesson in advance with YongPyong ski resort or whether you have any recommendation of any Ski class nearby? Roughly how much for a group lesson? Do you have any advice for first time ski like us?
        Thanks again!
        Eng Khoon

        • Eng Khoon says:

          Hi again, I read that there is gift card for YongPyong ski resort which can get up to 50% discount on accommodation. May I know how that work since we need to book in advance for the room and pay online before check in.
          For us 4 people, should we get 4 gift card (100k) each or it will be good to buy 1 card and use for all?
          Sorry to ask here as I not able to get gift card information in YongPyong ski resort website
          Regards
          Eng Khoon

          • Simon Norton says:

            Hi again, you can use the gift card for discounts on your lift tickets, but I’ve never heard of such discounts on their accommodation. Did you read this somewhere?

            • Eng Khoon says:

              Hi Simon
              I read at YongPyong website
              https://www.yongpyong.co.kr/eng/etc/giftCard.do
              It mention up to 50% on accommodation with gift card

              Regards,
              Eng Khoon

              • Simon Norton says:

                oh right, I’ve never noticed that before!

                But yeah, you’d need to have the card already to make the reservation, which isn’t possible without coming to Korea first… but perhaps you can find a good discount without the card by regularly checking booking sites like Agoda, they sometimes have really big discounts available. Hope you can find something!

        • Simon Norton says:

          You don’t need to book in advance, you can just arrange it when you arrive. The prices are here

  5. Kathleen says:

    I’m planning Korea ski trip with my children in Nov 2018. How is the snow condition in 11 Nov onwards? When is the best time for skii? How is the temperature like??

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Kathleen,

      The higher resorts do open in November, but the 11th is a little early. You can expect Yongpyong, High1, and Phoenix Park to open some time in mid-late November, depending how early the temperature drops low enough to make snow. Be aware that they usually only have a couple of runs open to begin with, so it’s better to wait until December if possible. I’m not sure what temperatures you’re used to, but it’s cold!

  6. annis says:

    which ski resort is the most fun and good ppl who like to ski? Any recommend ? Thx

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Annis,

      If you’re not into freestyle skiing, the best resorts for downhill skiing would be Yongpyong, High1, or Muju Deogyusan.

  7. Lee Jie Sheng says:

    Hi. I’m planning to g lo Korea on this year end of November and December. Any recommendation for me?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi, I’d be happy to give you some recommendations… are you planning to go skiing?

      • Lee Jie Sheng says:

        Thanks Simon. Can u kindly chat with me on Gmail hangout so that I can direct ask question. My travel at Korea is 5th to 17th of November.

        • Simon Norton says:

          Hi again, sorry but I’m not available for live chats. If you’d like to ask more directly than via these public comments, feel free to email me via the contact page.

          Cheers

  8. Yoan says:

    Hi Simon, im planning to go korea in the early of jan 2019, any suggestions beside yongpyong resort since i have been there before. I plan to take ski lesson and im a beginner, please advice. Thanks in advance

  9. Lauren says:

    Hi Simon,

    I am planning for a ski trip in early Dec. My children age range from 5 – 14 years old. Can you recommend which ski resort will be good for us? The older ones will be taking ski lessons. Hopefully there will be some other activities for the younger ones too. We have been to Phoenix Park. Would like to go to another resort with thicker and more fluffy snow. Thanks!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Lauren,

      Well, to be honest unless you get lucky you’re unlikely to experience thick, fluffy snow in Korea. But generally speaking the higher the resort, the better the snow quality. As you’ve already been to Phoenix Park, the only higher options are Yongpyong and High1 so those are the ones I’d recommend. Yongpyong is more convenient to reach from Seoul, whereas High1 is a more modern resort with better accommodation & facilities; in terms of ski terrain & conditions they’re about the same size, but High1 is the best bet for snow quality.

      Hope this helps, and feel free to ask any further questions you may have. Cheers!

  10. Shahriman says:

    Hi Simon,

    what an incredible site u have going here. Keep it up. Just dropping by to ask for your recommendations.

    I’m planning to bring the missus and our 2 young kids (7 and 3) to south korea in early december. I would like to stay at a ski resort for a few days and do some skiing but the rest of my family doesnt ski.

    Which ski resort do u think will have the best non ski entertainments for my wife and kids? In other words, if you weren’t a skier, which resort will you enjoy the most to spend a few days in? At the moment, I’m considering either Pheonix or Vivaldi.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Shahriman,

      Cheers! I’d say Vivaldi’s better than Phoenix for non-skiers, but if you’re willing to travel a bit further the best options would be High1 or Muju Deogyusan.

      Let me know if you have any more questions!

      • Shahriman says:

        Thanks Simon!

        I dont mind the long journey, so im ok with the farther resorts.

        How about between high 1 or muju then?

        Shahriman

        • Simon Norton says:

          Muju has a nice resort base area (the nicest out of all Korean resorts) and is in a really beautiful national park, but from High1 it’s easy to go down into the towns of Sabuk or Gohan to find non-skiing things to do. In terms of transportation, High1’s easier to get to as you can take a direct bus from Seoul (you have to change once or twice for Muju)

  11. Roberto says:

    Hi Simon,

    Nice site.

    It will be my first time in Korea and also my first time skiing.

    What city outside outside of Seoul you could recommend me to go with my friends, we are all adults and we are going for New Year’s this year.

    Thank you very much.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Cheers Roberto!

      You mean a city outside Seoul for sightseeing? I’d usually recommend Busan which is great for nightlife, shopping, food, and beaches. Obviously winter isn’t a good time for beaches though! Jeju is also very popular, or if you’re looking for a more traditional historical place consider Gyeongju.

      • LG says:

        Hi Simon, planning a Korea winter trip in Dec with my husband and son (10). Wanted a bit of sightseeing, eating and skiing as it will be the first time my son and husband are going to Korea. My husband has skied in Europe, Harbin and Japan so he might want some action and my son has skied twice in Japan and Harbin. I will be sitting out on skiing. We have 9 days, might want to ski for 3-4 days? Will need English-speaking, friendly help at the ski place. What do you recommend?

        • Simon Norton says:

          Hi, for a 3 or 4 day stay I’d definitely suggest Muju, High1, or Yongpyong. These are the 3 biggest resorts and anywhere else would lack the variety for 3 consecutive days of skiing and would be a bit disappointing compared to Europe & Japan. Muju has the nicest base area for a non-skier to hang out in, but High1 and Yongpyong get far more overseas visitors and are well set up with English-speaking instructors etc. Also if you stay at Yongpyong they could mix it up with a day skiing at nearby Alpensia (though that’s much smaller). Let me know if you have any further questions!

  12. Gregory says:

    Hi Simon,

    Me and my friends will be in korea this coming november. We are planning to have a ski on Nov 10. Can you recommended which resort we could come just to experience snow?

    Thank you.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Gregory, sorry but Nov 10th is still to early to ski. The higher resorts in Gangwon-do e.g. Alpensia & Yongpyong will already be making snow by then, so you could still visit to see the snow but there won’t be much happening.

  13. Kate Chen says:

    Hi Simon,

    We will be going for ski from 3/12-5/12 from Seoul. Both my older children age 13, 15 is at early stage of intermediate level while my husband at beginner. My youngest 7 is still learning and would like to place him in ski school.

    We are considering Phoenix but after second thought understand is more suitable for free style ski. My fmly would prefer just a downhill ski but within their level of expertise and not too steep.

    May I know what resort will be suitable and not too crowded, less waiting time for lift? We do not want to travel too much. Anything less than 3 hours travelling from Seoul would be good.

    Thanks for your advice.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Kate,

      Actually Phoenix would be fine for you – it’s famous for freestyle, but it’s also good for downhill skiing and they have plenty of suitable beginner & intermediate terrain.

      If you do want to look at alternatives within 3 hours, have a look at Vivaldi Park and Welli Hilli Park (both around 2 hours by bus, or slightly faster to Welli Hilli if you take KTX & shuttle bus). There’s also Yongpyong, which is slightly further (about 3 hours, or 2 hours if you take KTX & taxi) but much bigger.

  14. Kate Chen says:

    Hi Simon,

    Thanks a lot for your advice. What about Alpensia Resort? Suitable for beginner/intermediate? Will they be opening for Ski early Dec?

    Actually we will be there on weekday Mon-Wed. Heard that Phoenix and Vivaldi normally has longer waiting time for lift and gondolas. Was wondering if is week day would it be better? Appreciate your advice on this. Thanks.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Kate, yes weekdays are much better. I always advise people to try and avoid weekends, especially for Vivaldi.

      Alpensia will be open by then, sure, but I didn’t recommend it as it’s only really good for beginners. Intermediates will quickly run out of options at Alpensia, so Yongpyong’s probably better for them. However, thinking about it more, you did actually say they’re low intermediate, so maybe Alpensia would be ok for them after all – the resort itself is newer & nicer to stay at than Yongpyong, so you might want to consider it.

  15. Nurul says:

    Hi Simon.

    My family and I are planning for a quick ski trip(half day skiing) on early(9-13 december). We will be staying at sinchon. Would you recommend which ski resort most suitable for us where we can enjoy both ski (beginner) & sled activity?and experiencing build a snowman?
    For your info, there will be my niece (8-12 yrs) in this trip.i’ve read most of sled activity will be opened on mid dec. Do you know where is best place to play sled on early december?

    Higly appreciate for your recommendation & advice. Thank you!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Nurul, hmm that’s a tricky one. As you’ve already read, you’re probably going to be a bit too early for sledding at most resorts – the best chance would be to visit the higher resorts like Yongpyong or Alpensia, but those are further away. If you’re okay with travelling 3 hours each way, Alpensia might be your best bet.

  16. Rizza says:

    Hi Simon,

    Me and my mom are planning to go to Korea this December 22 – Jan 1. My mom is old but is willing to go to a ski resort and other activities. It’s our first time in Korea and first time for snow. We’ll enter Seoul and leave via Busan. Any recommendation on what ski resort for us? How many days should we a lot for Seoul and Busan? Thank you!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Rizza,

      Sounds like a nice plan. I really like Busan, but you probably only need 3 nights there, especially as you have 10 nights total. Seoul’s much bigger, with more to see.

      There’s a big ski resort between Seoul & Busan, Muju Deogyusan, so one suggestion would be e.g. Seoul 5 nights, Muju Deogyusan 2 nights, Busan 3 nights.

      Alternatively, base yourself in Seoul for a week with a side trip to a ski resort, then take the bullet train to Busan for the last few days. For this option you could do a day trip to one of the ski resorts near Seoul (Vivaldi Park or a Gyeonggi-do resort), or go for 1 or 2 nights to e.g. Yongpyong or Alpensia.

      Note that you’re going during the peak ski season, so it might be hard to get accommodation at the resorts. If you want to visit a resort for 1 or 2 nights, advise booking ASAP.

      You might be interested to see my travel blog too, it has some pages about Korea e.g. travel info, Seoul palaces, hiking.

      Hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions.

      • Rizza says:

        Thanks Simon!

        You’ve suggested 3 nights in Busan, what places should we go there? I read that Busan is famous for their beaches, but it’s winter time, so what alternative places should we go to?

        • Simon Norton says:

          Actually, I’d still recommend going to the beach even in winter. Gwangnalli Beach has a famous view of the bridge which is lit up beautifully at night (I went recently, see pic here), and there are restaurants and cafes all along the beach road.

          I’d also recommend visiting Haedong Yonggungsa Temple & Jagalchi Market, and the Seomyeon area if you’re interested in a busy downtown shopping & entertainment district.

          • Rizza says:

            Hi Simon!

            After a short discussion with my mom about the ski resort, we decided for a day trip only. Maybe in Vivaldi or any possible day trip resort. As per your recommendation on Vivaldi, I’ve read from your blog about the free shuttle bus (?), would it be possible to avail it on late December (Maybe 28 or 29). I really have no idea about skiing, but I wanted to try ski lessons. Still deciding on whether to book a package tour or do a DIY (free shuttle, rent your own and pay for your own ski lessons). Any further recommendations?

            • Simon Norton says:

              Hi again Rizza,

              Yes you’ll be able to use the shuttle then, you just need to make the reservation on their site. But if you’re planning to rent ski equipment & wear and have a lesson, it works out cheaper to book a package; if you look here you can see the ‘ski lesson package’ for 90,000 won, which includes everything you need (if you pay for all those separately, it’s significantly more expensive) or the ‘ski beginner lesson package’ for 67,000. Meanwhile your mom could take the ‘gondola package’ for 12,500 won (the gondola’s 15,000 if you buy it there), and she can go up and enjoy the view from the cafe at the top. Feel free to ask if you have any more questions!

              • Rizza says:

                Thank you so much for response Simon ^^

                Here’s another question, since we are now thinking of Vivaldi or Elysian for the ski resort, which of the two has more to offer for non skiers? And has better view for pictures? Thank you!

                Oh and for the note, we will be doing the DMZ tour thanks to your blog! ^^

                • Simon Norton says:

                  Good idea, the DMZ’s fascinating.

                  I’d say Vivaldi’s better for non-skiers – Vivaldi Snowy Land’s better than the sledding at Elysian, the gondola’s more comfortable to ride and the view at the top’s better, and Vivaldi has more shops etc

  17. Benny says:

    Hi Simon,

    We plan to join the skiing lesson at Vivaldi Park and stay there for 3days 2 nights, but i contacted many travel agent, all replied the resort sold out. How can i reserve the resort?

    Total of us 6 (4adults and 2kids), check in 28Dec2018 check out 30Dec2018.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Benny,

      Yeah I’m afraid it’s gonna be hard to get a reservation on those dates, it’s peak season for Seoulites to hit the ski resorts.

      You might have more luck with the bigger resorts a bit further away like Yongpyong, Alpensia, High1, or Phoenix Park; they’re all near small towns which have additional accommodation you can use if the resorts themselves are full (not really an option for Vivaldi), check the links on those pages and hopefully you can find something.

  18. Benny says:

    Hi Simon,

    We reserved Welli Hilli Resort Park from 28th to 30th Dec, we are looking for ski instructor for 6 of us (4adults and 2kids) on 28th Dec. Do you know how to find the instructor?

    Many thanks
    Benny

  19. Chris says:

    Great post and I really appreciate your responses on the comments as well!

    We think about heading to Korea to give our son a Snow Break from warm Thailand (we are from Germany, originally, but kinda live in SEA mostly)

    The only thing is, our timeframe is kinda limited to the last week of February and first week of March – thus we were thinking about going to High1 or Yongpyong, as the chances of having enough snow that late in season is better – am I right? Do you think we can expect ok-conditions? Or is it simply too late?

    Thanks again for your work!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hey Chris,

      Yes indeed you’re right about that, late season it’s best to go to Yongpyong or High1, also Phoenix Park or Welli Hilli still decent. Last week of February should still be good, in fact last season there was even a surprise heavy snowfall at the end of February and a couple of powder days. Conditions go downhill quickly in March though, so do come in February if you can.

      It’ll definitely be a big change from Thailand! Haha

      Cheers

      • Chris says:

        Thanks a lot for the additional insight. We’ll try to hit the slopes by Feb 23rd 😉

        Is it easy to go for daytrips to Phoenix if we are staying in Yongpyong or High1?

        Thanks again,

        Chris

        • Simon Norton says:

          Hi again Chris, it really depends on transportation; are you planning to hire a car, or use public transport?

          The public transportation is nice & fast from Seoul out to the resorts, but then travel between the resorts can be pretty time-consuming due to low frequency and bad connections e.g. at least 3 hours from Phoenix Park to High1 (versus 90 minutes by car). Yongpyong-Phoenix is easier, it’s about 40 minutes by car and a taxi should only be around 40-50 dollars for that.

  20. Charine says:

    Hi. Very good info I get from your advise. I am planning a trip this 2018 Christmas. Does the ski resort open for Christmas?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Charine, yes absolutely, Christmas is a national holiday in Korea and it’s one of the busiest days of the season for ski resorts. So yes you can go, but be ready for big crowds!

  21. Rupert says:

    Hi,

    Badly need your opinion. First, which is good Vivaldi or Elysian? And Why?

    Second, which is less crowd?

    Thank you very much

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Rupert,

      It probably depends on your level. Vivaldi is quite a lot bigger and has a halfpipe, so it’s better if you’re intermediate or above. If you’re a beginner it doesn’t make much difference, they’re both fine for learning. If you can already ski a bit and are trying to push on to intermediate, Elysian’s a good choice because their courses are well-designed with gradually increasing difficulty.

      In both cases they’re crowded at weekends, not too bad on weekdays.

  22. Brian says:

    Hi Simon,

    Hope you can help.

    I booked a three day two night trip to High1 with Trazy from 4th Feb 19 and Trazy have just mailed me to cancel because they say the accommodation is not available.

    I messaged them before booking and they did not say there might be any issues they just told me to go ahead and book.

    Any recommendations? Do you have any links or contacts I can use to arrange our trip?

    Thanks,

    Brian

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Brian,

      Sorry to hear this; it’s Seollal (Lunar New Year) next week, so accommodation is going to be tricky. For starters, try the links in the accommodation section on my High1 page and see if you can find something in Gohan or Sabuk. Of the two, Gohan is better as you can walk to Valley House base in 10 to 20 minutes depending where the hotel is, and they also have shuttle buses. Sabuk has regular shuttles up to Mountain House. Give that a shot and let me know how you get on, hopefully you can find something.

  23. Joann says:

    Hi Simon,

    Great website you have here! A lot of info for planning my first Korea trip.

    I am planning to go to South Korea for the 2nd half of December, probably 15 Dec to 28 Dec for honeymoon.
    Was thinking of flying in to Busan (3 nights?), then take a flight to Jeju Island (4 nights? Do you think it is enough?) and finally a flight to Seoul.

    Planning to stay at a ski resort for at least 1/2 nights after arriving in Seoul. We have not skied before. Do you recommend that we take classes or we can rent the gear and try it on our own? Do most resorts have sledding as well? Which resort would you recommend for sledding and beginner skiing?

    Thank you very much!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Joann,

      Glad you’re finding the site useful, cheers!

      I’ve never actually been to Jeju, but from what I hear 4 nights is enough time to see the main things there. Likewise for Busan, 3 nights is nowhere near enough to see it all but you can visit the main spots e.g. Gwangnalli & Haeundae beaches, Haedong Yonggungsa temple, and a market or two.

      For skiing, yes I definitely recommend that you take lessons to get the basics. Then you can practice by yourselves after that. If you just try it on your own you won’t know how to use the gear properly and you’ll pick it up much more slowly, so it’s kind of a waste of renting the equipment! Also you’re more likely to hurt yourself without an instructor. And yes the resorts all having sledding except a couple of the minor ones.

      In terms of which resort, Alpensia would probably be a good choice. It’s not a very impressive mountain (in fact it’s really small), but that’s fine for learning; but the hotel there is nicer than the older ones at some bigger resorts, and as it’s your honeymoon you probably want to stay somewhere nice! You could consider High1 too, which was also recently built, and stay at the High1 Hotel.

      Hope this helps, and let me know if you have any more questions!

  24. Fatin says:

    Hi Simon,
    I had just booked tickets to visit Seoul from 20th to 25th November. I hope to be able to bring my kids for their first snow experience 🙂 would you recommend which is the most convenient resort/park to go? My kids are 10,5,3 🙂

    Thanks!
    Fatin from Malaysia

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Fatin,

      That’s quite early in the season so the closest resorts might not be open yet. Your best bet is probably Vivaldi Park, it’s easy to get to and it should be open by then as long as the weather is co-operating. If it’s not open yet, you’ll probably have to go to Yongpyong (it’s usually the first to open)

  25. Chris Walton says:

    I am going to Busan in early Decemeber. Where would best place to get in afew days skiing?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Chris, there’s a small resort just outside Busan called Eden Valley, see here, it’s nothing special but it’s close and fine for a day out on the slopes. If you actually want to go and stay somewhere for a few days you’ll want to travel a few hours to Muju Deogyusan or perhaps High1

  26. Mirei T says:

    Hey Simon! Great guide. Which ski resort is the best to visit during October? Preferably one with a challenging course *and* a downhill slope (for beginners). Thanks!

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Mirei, sorry but the ski resorts don’t open until mid to late November. October’s a great time for some hiking though, see my hiking guide here if that’s of any interest

  27. Chong Siow Teng says:

    Hi Simon, we have a big group family trip to Korea in Dec19. The youngest is 4yrs old and oldest is 60yrs old. We all first time to try winter ski. May I seek for your recommendation?

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hello, the best option for you would probably be Vivaldi Park as it’s super easy to get there using their free tourist shuttle bus from Myeongdong, and they have good family facilities and English-speaking instructors are available (and possibly Mandarin-speaking if that’s better for you)

  28. Nancy S Mutia says:

    Hi Simon, my family will be having our vacation in South Korea this coming December 20 to 29, 2019. We are from the Philippines and I’ve been to Welli Hilli Park last Dec 2013 during an official trip but it’s the first time for my husband and three grown ups kids to experience winter skiing. May we ask your recommendation(s) which place is the best for us and it’s not too expensive, are there hotels or place where we can stay for 2 to 3 days. Thanks.

  29. Iggy says:

    Hi Simon,

    My wife and I would be making a trip to Korea from 1-5feb to snowboard. Would like your recommendations on which resorts to go for as we are so overwhelmed by the choices available in Korea. And also why you recommend those resorts?

    Looking forward to hearing from you.

    Cheers

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Iggy, it really depends what you’re looking for and what your level is, but my main recommendations are given on this page! Did you have any questions about any of the info above?

      Or if you can tell me your level & experience I can specific advice.

  30. Ploy says:

    Hi, Simon

    appreciate your sharing and kind comments

    I and family plan to go to ski resort in Korea on Feb9-10. it’s not our first time for snow, but first time for ski.
    We gonna choose High1 because of it’s snow quality. So, I wonder if there will be fluffy snow, or at least real snow, during that time? Is it worth for long travel comparing to other resorts near Seoul.
    Also, our parent will not ski. Is there any other ski activity like snowmobile?

    What would you recommend? Thanks in advance

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Ploy,

      It’s impossible to predict for specific dates – if you’re lucky, there will be fresh snow, but otherwise there won’t. It doesn’t usually snow very much in Korea though.

      High1 does get the most natural snowfall, but compared to other countries like Japan it still doesn’t get very much, so High1 also has to make a lot of their snow. But don’t worry, it’s still ‘real’ snow and fine for learning on – you won’t be able to tell the difference.

      I actually suggest you consider Vivaldi Park instead of High1. This is because Vivaldi Park has a popular Snowy Land attraction which would be a nice way for your parents to enjoy the snow without skiing, and the snow quality at Vivaldi is almost the same as High1

  31. Lene says:

    Hi Simon,

    Just read your article and not sure if you would reply. 🙂 I am going to Seoul in January 2024 and plan for a winter ski for 2 days 1 night. Or maybe day trip. Most probably would join a group class or without class, for the first time experience. Which ski park would u recommend for very nice breath-taking sceneries, photos and for first time experience like me to a winter ski resort? Thank you in advance.

    • Simon Norton says:

      Hi Lene, sorry for the slow reply. First of all I definitely recommend taking a lesson. It’s very hard to ski for the first time if you don’t have an instructor or a friend who can teach you, so it’s safer and more fun to join a class.

      As for which resort, the biggest ones further from Seoul have better views, so that’s High1 or Yongpyong. The runs from the top are too challenging for your first day, but you can still ride the gondolas up to see the views and then go back down on the gondola again. Or if you don’t want to travel so far then Vivaldi Park is a good compromise, it’s closer to Seoul but you can still enjoy good views from the top gondola station (and you could also visit Snowy Land)

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Hi I’m Simon, British snowboard addict & travel blogger presently based in NE Asia. I run this site to help international visitors plan their trips to Korean ski resorts; you might also be interested in my travel blog, especially the Korea sightseeing and Japan snowboarding content

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