Skiing in Korea 2026–27: which resort, and how to get there
Korea hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics and has more than a dozen ski resorts, most of them in the mountains of Gangwon, two to three hours east of Seoul. The snow is mostly machine-made on a cold, dry base; the runs are shorter than in the Alps or Japan, but the resorts are well run, cheap to reach, and several are close enough to Seoul for a day trip.
The short answer
- One day from Seoul: Vivaldi Park, Elysian Gangchon or Gonjiam. A day tour with gear and transport is the easiest way.
- A proper ski trip of two nights or more: Yongpyong or High1, which have the longest runs and slope-side hotels.
- Season: most resorts open in late November or early December and run to mid-March. Late December to mid-February has the most reliable snow.
- Avoid Seollal week, 6–9 February 2027, when half of Seoul goes to the mountains. See the Seollal guide.
The resorts
| Yongpyong | The largest and oldest resort, and the 2018 Olympic venue for the technical alpine events. A gondola climbs to Dragon Peak for the longest runs; plenty of intermediate terrain and slope-side hotels. The best all-round choice for a trip of several days. |
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| High1 | High in the southern Gangwon mountains, with long, wide runs from the summit and some of the best natural snow in the country. Further from Seoul, so it suits a stay rather than a day. |
| Alpensia | Home of the Olympic ski jumps, next to Yongpyong, with a small, gentle ski area that suits beginners and families. Closest resort to the KTX. |
| Vivaldi Park | The most popular resort with day-trippers from Seoul, with lots of beginner slopes, ski schools used to foreigners, and a big snow-sledding area. Crowded at weekends. |
| Elysian Gangchon | Small, but the only resort you can reach easily by train: Baegyang-ri Station on the Gyeongchun Line and ITX, then a short shuttle. Good for a first try. |
| Gonjiam | The closest to Seoul, about 40 minutes from Gangnam: well-groomed, more expensive, and open into the night for skiing after work. |
| Muju Deogyusan | The one big resort in the south, with a very long beginner-friendly run from the top of Deogyusan. Worth it if you are coming from Busan or Daejeon. |
Getting there
| Resort shuttle buses | Most resorts run winter shuttle buses from Seoul, with pick-ups at stations such as Jamsil, Gangnam and Hongdae, bookable online in advance. They are cheap and fill up at weekends. |
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| KTX to Pyeongchang | The Gangneung Line reaches Pyeongchang and Jinbu stations in under two hours from Seoul Station or Cheongnyangni; resort shuttles and taxis cover the last stretch to Alpensia and Yongpyong. |
| Day tours | Leave Seoul around 07:00 and return in the evening, with gear, clothing, lift ticket and often a two-hour lesson included. The best value if you have no equipment. |
What it costs
- Lift tickets run roughly ₩80,000–110,000 for a full day at the gate, less for half-days and night sessions. Resorts sell cheaper tickets online and through travel platforms.
- Rental of skis or a board with boots is around ₩30,000–50,000 a day. Clothing (jacket and trousers) is extra and widely available, including from rental shops on the road outside the resorts, which are usually cheaper than those inside.
- Lessons in English are available at the bigger resorts and through the day tours; book ahead for weekends.
- Bring your own gloves, goggles and a hat. They are sold at the resorts but at resort prices.
Good to know
- Night skiing is normal. Many resorts keep slopes open into the late evening, and the night session is often quieter than the afternoon.
- Weekdays are far quieter than weekends, especially outside the school holidays from late December to February.
- It is cold: January mornings in Pyeongchang are often −15°C or lower. The winter guide covers what to pack.
- Pair a mountain stay with the east coast. Gangneung and its beaches are 30 minutes beyond Pyeongchang on the KTX.
Korea in winterChristmas & New Year in SeoulSeollal 2027Everything in GangwonKorea in January
