The Best Ski Resorts In South Korea: How To Hit The Slopes

When the winter season arrives in South Korea, the country’s mountaintops transform into snowy wonderlands, making it the perfect time for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts to hit the slopes. South Korea boasts an impressive array of ski resorts, some you probably spotted during the 2018 Winter Olympics held here as well. Considering the country is covered in mountains, it shouldn’t be surprising how many skiing resorts you can find here.

Planning a winter in Korea vacation? There’s plenty to do and skiing or snowboarding is up there among the highlights of the season.

Get ready to visit some of the best ski resorts in South Korea this winter in Korea. Here is the essential information you need to know and tips for planning your perfect winter adventure.

• When to go skiing in Korea
• Planning Your Trip to Ski in South Korea
• The Best Ski Resorts in South Korea
  • Yongpyong Ski Resort (용평리조트 스키장)
  • Vivaldi Park (비발디 파크 스키월드)
  • Oak Valley Ski Resort (오크밸리 스키장)
  • High1 Ski Resort (하이원 리조트)
  • Elysian Gangchon (엘리시안 강촌 스키장)
  • Bears Town Ski Resort (베어스타운리조트 스키장)
  • Phoenix Pyeongchang Ski Park (휘닉스 평창)
  • Alpensia Ski Resort (알펜시아리조트 스키장)
  • Jisan Forest Ski Resort (지산 포레스트 리조트 스키장)
  • Welli Hilli Snow Park (웰리힐리파크)
  • Konjiam Ski Resort (곤지암리조트)
  • Muju Deogyusan Ski Resort (무주덕유산리조트 스키장)
  • O2 Resort (오투리조트 스키장)

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

---

When to go skiing in Korea

The South Korean winter season typically runs from late November to early April, offering a fantastic window for skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts. However, the peak skiing months are January and February, coinciding with the winter school break. These months provide the best chances for snowfall, although they can also lead to busier slopes.

---

Planning Your Trip to Ski in South Korea

Yes ski resorts exist in Korea, the majority of South Korean ski resorts are located within a couple of hours of Seoul. This makes day trips from Seoul both convenient and cost-effective. To simplify your planning, consider booking ski tours through trusted operators like Klook or kkday.

These operators offer significant discounts to foreigners, allowing you to customize your trip with transportation, gear rentals, and more. This is great because that means you don’t have to pack all of your winter gear. Pack light, these tour companies provide it all from transportation to lift tickets, lessons, and more. Or, just use them for the shuttle service so you can sleep after your day on the mountain.

---

The Best Ski Resorts in South Korea

Now, let’s dive into some of the best ski resorts in South Korea, offering a glimpse of the incredible winter experiences they provide.

Yongpyong Ski Resort (용평리조트 스키장)

• Distance from Seoul: 3 hours | 190 km
• Number of slopes: 28; Longest course is 5,600m
• Best for: More experienced skiers and snowboarders

Yongpyong Ski Resort is arguably the best ski resort in Korea. Home to the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, you may have seen it all over your TV. This Korean ski resort features the longest slope in the country. With the highest annual snowfall, it offers a wide range of slopes for skiers of all levels, from beginners to advanced. It’s open from late November until April, making it one of the longest-operating ski resorts in Korea.

Vivaldi Park (비발디 파크 스키월드)

• Distance from Seoul: 2 hours | 95km
• Number of slopes: 12; Longest course is 900m
• Best for: Couples, young adults, and families

Vivaldi Ski Park is the most visited ski park in Korea, known for its close proximity to Seoul. It features state-of-the-art facilities and unique slopes named after music genres. The park’s Snowyland is perfect for family fun. However, expect large crowds, especially on weekends. Visiting in early December might provide a less crowded experience.

Oak Valley Ski Resort (오크밸리 스키장)

• Distance from Seoul: Under 2 hours | 105km
• Number of slopes: 9; Longest course is 1,600m
• Best for: Beginners and those learning to ski in Korea, foreigner-friendly

Oak Valley Ski Resort is a premium ski park focused on providing a family-friendly experience in the Wonju area. It’s known for its long and wide beginner slopes and is ideal for snowboarding. The park’s signage is in both Korean and English, making it foreigner-friendly, and it’s known for a very peaceful atmosphere.

High1 Ski Resort (하이원 리조트)

• Location from Seoul: 3 hours | 220km
• Number of slopes: 20; Longest course is 2,328m
• Best for: Skiers and snowboarders of all levels, great for the whole family

High1 Ski Resort, one of the largest resorts in Korea, offers long, wide slopes suitable for families and beginners. Due to its size and location, it’s less crowded than other resorts. The park, at an altitude of 1,345 meters, also features excellent facilities, including a 5-star hotel.

Elysian Gangchon (엘리시안 강촌 스키장)

• Location from Seoul: 1.5 hours | 90km
• Number of slopes: 8; Longest course is 1,500m
• Best for: Beginners, those wanting to visit Nami Island

Elysian Ski Resort is one of the closest ski resorts to Seoul and is the only resort that is easily accessible via the the Seoul subway. It offers short and less challenging slopes, making it great for beginners. Pair your ski trip with a visit to Nami Island and the Gangchon Railbike which are also nearby.

Bears Town Ski Resort (베어스타운리조트 스키장)

• Location from Seoul: 1 hours | 60km
• Number of slopes: 11; Longest course is 2,500m
• Best for: Beginners and more advanced snowboarders

Known for being extremely close to Seoul, Bears Town offers long, wide slopes suitable for beginners. It’s an excellent destination for a quick day trip from the capital city.

Phoenix Pyeonchang Ski Park (휘닉스 평창)

• Distance from Seoul: 2 hours | 160km
• Number of slopes: 21; Longest course is 1,450m
• Best for: Freestyle snowboarding

Phoenix Pyeongchang Ski Park near Yongpyong Ski Resort is a great choice for snowboarders. Known for its freestyle skiing and snowboarding events during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, it’s a hotspot for snowboarding in Korea.

Alpensia Ski Resort (알펜시아리조트 스키장)

• Distance from Seoul: 2.5 hours | 190km
• Number of slopes: 6; Longest course is 1,351m
• Best for: Beginners

Alpensia Ski Resort, known for hosting ski jump events during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, offers fewer slopes but top-class facilities. It’s a suitable choice for beginners, although it’s smaller than nearby resorts like Yongpyong.

Jisan Forest Ski Resort (지산 포레스트 리조트 스키장)

• Location from Seoul: 1 hour | 66km
• Number of slopes: 7; Longest course is 1,200m
• Best for: Beginners

Close to Everland theme park, Jisan Forest Ski Resort is convenient for those seeking a quick skiing experience near Seoul. Opened in 1996, it is the longest-running ski resort in Korea. It’s a good option for beginners but can get crowded on the weekends.

Welli Hilli Snow Park (웰리힐리파크)

• Distance from Seoul: 2 hours | 140 km
• Number of slopes: 19; Longest course is 2,600m
• Best for: Advanced skiers

Welli Hilli Snow Park is a top choice for advanced skiers due to its impressive freestyle hill. It’s one of the biggest ski resorts in Korea and boasts a famous halfpipe. It’s the first resort in Korea to have an internationally certified mogul course.

Konjiam Ski Resort (곤지암리조트)

• Distance from Seoul: 1 hour | 55km
• Number of slopes: 11; Longest course is 2,200m
• Best for: A quick trip from Seoul, families, and night skiing

Located just 45 minutes from Seoul, Konjiam is ideal for a quick skiing getaway. Its limited daily visitors ensure a less crowded experience than you’ll find at some other nearby ski resorts.

Muju Deogyusan Ski Resort (무주덕유산리조트 스키장)

• Distance from Seoul: 3 hours | 230km
• Number of slopes: 22; Longest course is 6,100m
• Best for: People living in southern parts of Korea

If you’re residing in the southern regions of South Korea, Muju Deogyusan Ski Resort is a fantastic choice, even though it’s a bit further from Seoul. Even from Seoul, it’s worth the trip. I had a fantastic trip to Muju for the slopes. Down in Jeollabuk-do, it has long and exciting slopes. For the adrenaline junkies, the Raiders Course has the steepest slopes in Korea.

O2 Resort (오투리조트 스키장)

• Distance from Seoul: 3.5 hours | 245km
• Number of slopes: 16; Longest course is 3,200m
• Best for: The adventurous skiier

Expect high-speed, steep ski runs. known for having some of the snowiest slopes, O2 Ski Resort is smaller than nearby High1, but offers sweeping views of the Taebaek region and plenty of snowy fun.

Eden Valley Resort (에덴밸리리조트)

• Distance from Seoul: 4.5 hours | 392km
• Distance from Busan: 1 hour | 50km
• Number of slopes: 7; Longest course is 1,495m
• Best for: Skiers in the south

Eden Valley Resort is the southernmost of the ski resorts in Korea and is ideal for those living in or visiting Busan. Since it is so far south, the snow isn’t necessarily the best or even a sure-thing, but it’s a great quick jaunt out for skiing down south.

---

Did you like this post? Pin IT!