Want to buy a multi-resort season ski and Snowboard Pass for Korea but the details seem a little fuzzy? We purchased ours for the first time this year and wanted to share our experience. The following post may help clarify the X5 process and share a few tips and tricks we wish we had known.

My Experience with X5 Multi-Pass

Before we start talking about the passes, I want to say that my only regret is that I didn’t buy mine in past years. As a person who lives to ride, the multi-pass improved my season immediately. For example, now that I have my X5 pass:

• I attended two opening days instead of waiting to start until later in the season. Since I have my pass I didn’t care about potentially wasting money on bad snow days. Therefore, I started hitting the slopes in late November rather than late December.
• I stopped to eat. I’m always worried about missing a run and wasting my ski time so I often don’t eat when I should and sometimes get in a bit of a situation. Now that I have my pass, I take a lunch break.
• I will drop in for a few runs on the way to another event. Since we have X5 passes, we can stop for a few runs on the way through an area. Instead of wasting my money on a short day, I’m maximizing my pass.
• I can take a rest. Before I was pushing myself past a safe place because I wanted to get in as many runs as possible. Now I start earlier in the day and let myself take some time whenever I need it.

After just one month with my X5 Pass, I’m a true believer and I want other people to get them as well. So if you love skiing and snowboarding, here is what you need to know about the X5 multi-resort season passes.

About X5 Multi-Resort Season Passes

The X5 Multi-Resort Season Passes started a few years ago. The passes allow pass holders to ski or snowboard at multiple resorts across Korea while only paying for one pass. X5 Multi-Resort Season Passes are still pretty new to the scene and a great deal. The passes often don’t get marketed to the international community so many folks miss out on the lowest deals for becoming a snow bum in Korea.

When and Where to Buy X5 Passes

If you want to get the best deals on the X5 passes check the TMON website or check Naver regularly starting in mid-September or early-October. Have all your banking, phone, and ID information registered and ready to go in Korea before purchasing. More about this later in this post.

The Exact Pass Name Might Change Each Year

Each time they come out with the pass they change the number. Maybe they call it the X4 or X3 pass. This makes it very annoying to find online. That means you need to know the websites to check to see what it’s called each year. Specifically, you need to check the TMON website. We will say this many times in this blog to make sure you know where to find and buy passes quickly.

Knowing Korean Helps

The entire process for purchasing and activating the X5 seasonal passes is in Korean. If you don’t speak Korean you need 1) a friend to help you or 2) excellent Papago translation skills and time to figure things out. Don’t let this stop you though, it’s doable and worth it if you love skiing all season.

Price

In 2023, the earliest X5 Multi-Resort Season Pass cost 430,000 KRW. Of course, prices change from year to year. It also depends on when you purchase them. This price is not a promise, just information.

Generally speaking, 4 hours of snowboarding costs between 50,000 – 80,000 depending on what discounts you find. So if you want to ski more than 4 hours a day / 7 days in the year, you may want to get the X5 pass.

Sales Period

The X5 Multi-Resort Season Passes often start selling in the first week of October. The cheapest deals end around the last week of November. The passes may continue to well after that for increased rates.

Participating Resorts

The resorts that participate in the X5 pass may change each year. In 2023 the season passes include:

• WelliHelli Park
• Pyongyong Resort
• High1 Park
• Elysian Gangchon
• Eden Valley

Each Adult Pass Includes One Free Child Under 18

That’s correct, families get the most out of the ski pass because kids ski for free.

Signing up Your Child

In 2023, South of Seoul volunteer Molly Hayden signed up her child with her X5 Pass. Molly and her family don’t speak Korean and they went through the process at the ski resort without a translator. Here was her family’s experience:

“So registering our kid was super easy. Everything comes to your Kakao talk through Play story, so when we went to get our passes, they just added our kid. We didn’t fill out any info prior (apparently you’re supposed to, but we didn’t get to it), so they helped us translate and the whole process took about 10 minutes. Super easy. And so worth it for the price. Last year kiddos were 30k, this year, 50k.”

The 30,000 – 50,000 KRW fee is for the child’s physical pass. So they ski for free, but you still need to get them a pass when you sign up. Be prepared for that additional fee.

Resort Discounts & Access

The X5 Season Pass doesn’t just give you discounts on skiing, it also has many hotel and resort discounts and increased access to booking dates. Once you purchase your X5 passes you will get messages about such discounts and booking links. This will all be in Korean. I recommend putting them into Papago and reading them. There are some solid deals.

You will also get a discount book when you get your X5 Seasonal Pass activated. The book is filled with different discount offers that we haven’t had the chance to use yet.

Purchasing Options

You will need to follow one of two paths for purchasing your X5 passes:

Purchase Them Independently

You can independently purchase the X5 Season Ski Passes through TMon online or through their app. If you have your Kakao setup correctly to validate your identity and your Korean accounts connected to Kakao Pay, the entire payment process through the app is incredibly easy. However, if you need to use the TMon website things get complicated quickly. Also, if you don’t have all your payment processing setup for your phone, things can be tough.

Get Help from a Service or a Friend

If you have no idea how to navigate the online Korean banking systems and purchasing sites, you need to get help from either a professional service or a friend. They will purchase the tickets for you and then help you activate them at the resort.

You Need to be a Resident of Korea with Your ID Synced with Your Phone

Keep in mind that each person who has an X5 Season Pass needs to have a phone registered in South Korea and synced with their Korean residency card. I’m saying this specifically for US Military-affiliated individuals who do not have a Korean Residency Card, don’t have a Korean smartphone number, or don’t have their Korean smartphone synced with their Korean residency card. Do NOT have another person buy you an X5 pass thinking you can get the ID issues worked out later. It takes up to 30 days to get your Korean ID.

Our Experience Activating Our Season Passes

For our group, one person purchased three X5 Season passes for a group. Once the tickets were purchased, PlayStory immediately messaged the purchasing person 3 different messages in Kakao. Each message contained an ID number for one pass.

Activate Your Passes in Person

You need to visit the X5 desk at one of the participating resorts to activate your pass for the season. Each resort has a specific office that manages the X5 Passes. You should get text messages with the opening hours and locations of each of these offices after you purchase your pass and right after opening days are announced.

This means that if you purchased your tickets very early, you will not get the text message with X5 office locations for a few weeks. This often occurs around the last week in November and the first week in December. However, any gear rental spot or hotel near the resort can let you know where the X5 office is near them.

Arrive at the X5 Office Early

Arrive at the X5 office before they open if possible. On opening day, we arrived at the season pass office 30 minutes after they opened and that was a mistake. We should have arrived early. There were already 50 people ahead of us in line when we took a number. It wasn’t cramped but we would recommend arriving 10-15 minutes before they open to get the process finished as soon as possible.

Registration Starts on Your Phone

While waiting our turn, Lisa noticed we could start the registration process on our phones. To start the pre-registration process, each person was advised to download the PlayStory app to their phone. However, when we downloaded PlayStory we found that Android and iPhones don’t work the same. Here is what you need to know:

Download PlayStory

Even though we purchased the tickets through the TMon app, we learned that PlayStory manages the tickets themselves. This means that every person with an X5 Season pass needs to download the PlayStory app to their individual devices.

The iPhone and Android PlayStory Apps Work Differently

The iPhone and Andriod PlayStory apps didn’t work the same. Here is what we found. Our 3 passes were purchased on my iPhone. Lisa could use the Android PlayStory app to activate her X5 Season Pass using the ID number included in the text message sent to the purchasing phone. However, Harry could not use the iPhone PlayStory app and could not use the ID number included in the text message sent to the purchasing phone to activate his pass.

Instead, I had to register Harry through the PlayStory on my phone, and then it sent the verification notification to his phone. At that point, he was able to verify and activate the pass on his phone. Needless to say, this complicated things a bit. Next year, we will have the purchasing person activate all the passes from the start now that we know it’s possible and easy to do.

Also, if this sounds hard, just have the assistance at the X5 desk walk you through completing the process. It might mean more time at their desk but it will go more smoothly. It’s all in Korean.

PlayStory Manages X5 Resort Liability Waivers

Part of the process of activating your X5 Seasonal Pass includes the liability waivers for all of the resorts. This means you don’t need to fill out the paper liability waivers that may or may not be found in the waiting area.

Meet With an X5 Agent and Get the Pass

Once your number is called you go to an X5 Season Pass Agent. If you completed pre-registration on the phones, you will hand your phone to the rep and they will complete the process on their end and print out your season pass. This takes about 5-10 minutes per person if you did everything correctly.

If you did not figure out how to pre-register in the app, then the X5 Season Pass Agent will walk you through the process from beginning to end. It will take about 10 -15 minutes per person in your group.

Registering the Palm of Your Hand

Now that you have your physical X5 card, you need to register the palm of your hand with your card. You need to do this because your physical card will be activated each time you visit a participating resort by scanning the palm of your hand.

To register the palm of your hand, visit the attended palm registration area next to an X5 office. You place your X5 Season Pass on the card reader and then your palm on the scanner. You may need to have your palm scanned about 3 times to get the final scan. So, pick up your hand and put it back down between each scan. All of this will be prompted in Korean. Once you have your card and registered your palm, it’s time to hit the slopes.

Using the X5 Pass

At the start of each day of skiing, locate the scanners in the lobby of the resort or near the X5 office. Place the card on the reader and then scan your plam, this will activate your X5 Season Pass for the day. At each run gate, you will need to scan your X5 Pass. Keep in mind, at YongPyong Resort you might need to rescan your palm separately for night skiing. Honestly, the X5 passes feel incredibly easy to use once everything is in the system

Losing Your Physical X5 Pass

If you lose your pass it will cost around 30,000 – 50,000 KRW to replace it. We have not gone through this process, but we did see the prices so we know it’s possible to replace a lost pass.

Feel Free to Correct Us or Add Information

Our goal at South of Seoul is accuracy. Sometimes we don’t get it right on the first try. If we left out the information you find important or didn’t explain something clearly, or now things are different – tell us in the comments or send us a message.

Learn More About the Included Resorts

Here are some South of Seoul blog posts about:

• High1 Resort
• Resorts in Gangwondo
• Yongpyong

Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAIT

Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.

Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.

Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.

Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.

When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.

www.southofseoul.net

The post Multi-Resort Season Ski and Snowboard Pass for Korea appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

To clarify, we are the lazy people in question. Hopefully, our laziness helps others follow in our footsteps. Here is our favorite Yongpong ski resort itinerary.

About this Weekend Itinerary

Recently we took a ‘housemates trip’ to Gangwon-do in order to get back into snowboarding after two of us had to take a few years off due to injuries. That means this ski trip itinerary was tested by intermediate snowboarders of varying levels of physical functionality.

We were terrified the trip would end in disaster (more injuries) but nothing like that happened. We were all able to comfortably snowboard within our abilities and the trip was perfect. We HIGHLY recommend that anyone thinking about hitting the slopes in Korea takes this as the sign to give it a try.

Trip Plan by Winter Friend

Sometimes our house doesn’t have the energy to plan things for our group. During such times, Winter Friend and the associated travel planners save our butts. We do a bank transfer and they send us the plan for the day or a weekend. If you are like us, we recommend using a company like Winter Friend as they have connections with the right places. We gave them money and they made the magic happen.

Plus, they also have some pre-planned trips with leaders that you can join. Seriously though, they have some great deals including a bus that goes from Seoul to Yongpyong if you don’t have a car.

For us, we usually mix and match the Winter Friend plan with our own journey. That means we will let them organize the hotel, lift tickets, tell us where to rent gear, etc. Then we coordinate our own transportation and meals. That’s because we need the flexibility to research the area for our South of Seoul community.

Here is what our mix and match Winter Friend snowboard weekend looked like.

DAY 1: Departure + McDonalds or Starbucks

Since this trip was about being lazy, we didn’t make breakfast. Instead, we went to the drive-through on the way out of town. Both McDonald’s and Starbucks offer breakfast sandwiches and coffee. You are about to spend all day on the slopes so you don’t need to be cutting calories today.

DAY 1: Grab a Hearty Lunch

Gangwondo is filled with great places to grab lunch. We usually go with Korean food since our favorite meals come from Gangwondo, on this trip we didn’t break with tradition. We also didn’t plan ahead. Instead, we took the back roads through the mountains and found a place along the way. Not the fastest way to the resort, but certainly the most beautiful.

All I wanted was a handmade tofu meal on a cold winter’s day. Tofu in Korea is not seen as a vegetarian dish. It’s simply delicious food. That means most tofu meals will also include meat. In this case, it was elements of seafood. As soon as I saw this spot I was like, “Stop the car and go back. That place is going to be unique and delicious. ” As always, I was right. I have a six-sense for fabulous Korean food.

Keunteo Handmade Tofu⁵

Hangul Address

강원 횡성군 우천면 경강로 3291

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

However, if you aren’t obsessed with Korean food like we are, Gangwondo also has many wonders such as White Crow Brewing. This is a perfect spot for beers and lunch.

White Crow Brewing⁵

033-333-1201

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 방림면 고원로 65

A split menu of four seasonal beers and their flagship four brews offers an excellent variety to showcase their craft and to highlight ingredients grown in the region (sampler flights are available for both!). The water comes from a well drilled on site, providing a crisp, clean slate to build on for both their brewing and the fantastic cooking that comes out of the Brewerys kitchen. Poutine, pizza, and fish and chips are the big 3 to name amongst others, that were each prepared in the finest form many of us have had in a long time, or ever in Korea. Spending hours at this place is too easy, some might say... White Crow has been open since 2019 and has grown in popularity and notoriety quite fast, but is clearly just getting started. They often host events and recently concluded a food-collaboration partnership series which Im sure we will see more events like it soon. If you can only spend a day in this region, make it a long one, but we highly recommend you stay in a hotel or pension nearby - Welli Hilli, Dunnae, and some Camping/Pensions offer you a variety of options to spend the night. The closer to White Crow, the better!

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

DAY 1: Arrive Near YongPong Ski Resort and Rent Gear

Before going to the resort we needed to get your snowboard pants, jacket, goggles, etc. (Assuming you don’t have any) We had Winter Friend set this up for us so that we didn’t need to spend time choosing a gear shop.

The costs for our outfits included 15,000 won for pants and jacket, googles 15,000 won, and helmet around 4,000 won. We also didn’t have gloves right for snow and ended up buying some at the shop for 18,000 won. The great all worked great. Quite happy.

In the future, we will also rent our boards here because they have 24hr rentals (on this trip we rented from Yongpyong Ski Resort) which means you can keep the gear all night for morning skiing.

Also, the gear rental shop gave all of us bags to hold the gear which made the whole day MUCH easier. This thoughtful addition to the experience was a welcome surprise.

Binghasidae Gear Rental⁰

0507-1325-0928

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 경강로 5178

An independent gear rental offering everything you need to hit the slopes. Affordable prices and a large selection of pants and jackets up to 3xxx (women’s size 16 at least)

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

DAY 1: Check-in at Dragon Valley Hotel

Keep in mind, actual room check-in isn’t until 3:00pm. However, Dragon Valley Hotel will let you check in early and then text you when the room is ready. That way you can get on the slopes as soon as you arrive and go straight to your room after you finish.

We like Dragon Valley Hotel because you exit right out into the lifts, they have an affordable breakfast buffet (19,00 won), and comfortable beds. We like things to be simple and easy.

Dragon Valley Hotel⁰

033-330-7111

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715

A ski resort right by the lifts. Huge breakfast buffet. The buffet may come with the room or extra depending on how the room was booked.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

DAY 1: Get Your Lift Tickets

The ticket office is only a one-minute walk out the door of Dragon Valley Hotel. You can purchase lift tickets from either an automated ticketing kiosk or a human-assisted one. The automated ticketing kiosk is in English.

Yongpyong Ski Resort⁰

033-335-5757

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715

Korea’s first ski resort. A wide variety of runs.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

DAY 1: Get Your Board and Boots

If you decide to rent boards at the ski resort, you can also pick these up before or after you lift tickets. Give yourself about 1 hour to go through this whole process. You will need to store your shoes and adjust your gear. Also, the resort boards and boots were in surprisingly good shape. The guards on the snowboard tips were a little annoying while riding.

You will need to write your Korean shoe size on a piece of paper in order to get your boots. Thankfully they have a nice easy way to measure your shoe size. You also need to know your height in cm. Don’t judge my socks.

All of the shoe lockers were full when we arrived so we put our boots on top of the lockers. Nobody stole them. You can also put them in your car.

DAY 1: Hit the Slopes

Two of us are recovering from injuries so we stuck to the easier hills while another went to explore more lifts and routes. We loved the flexibility to play on the bunny hill and work on our skills after our lift tickets and finished for the day. All we could keep saying was, “This is the best day ever” while we struggled through the pain of getting back into slopes shape.

The lifts at the bottom of the hill had longer waiting times than the lifts further up the slopes. That said, we never had to wait very long to catch a ride.

DAY 1: Dinner in Town

The prices for dinner at Dragon Valley Hotel were out of our price range but thankfully we had a car.

There is a very cute mountain town near YongPyong Ski Resort that was beautifully updated during the 2018 Winter Olympics. You can find burgers, chicken, pizza, coffee shops, BBQ, Galbi, and more. It’s also stunning during evening snow. We parked and walked around looking for the perfect spot.

Since we can’t resist an alley filled with art and snow, we ended up at Donuri. This smalls, cozy Korean food restaurant offers up fabulous samgyupsal and kimchi. We ate way too many side dishes and rolled home. This restaurant will be spot we come back to in the future.

Donuri ⁰

033-335-3392

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 대관령로 112

Very tasty Korean bbq and other dishes. Menu available in English. As of 2021, only floor seating available. The kimchi is fantastic.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Day 1: Go To Bed Early

To maximize our weekend wanted to go to bed early. After dinner, we headed right back to Dragon Valley Hotel and get some rest. We regretted not bringing some games to play and will do that next time, instead, we took some time to enjoy the beautiful light display and outdoor fire pit.

The Dragon Valley Hotel beds were nice and we slept like babies. Keep in mind, we have lived in South Korea for over a decade (8 years on sleeping on the floor) and have no idea what western beds feel like anymore. These seemed softer than other places we stay, so western folks might like them.

Day 2: Wake up Early and Grab a Buffet Breakfast

After you wake up and have your hotel coffee, head to the Dragon Valley Hotel Breakfast Buffet. This western and Korean breakfast is heavy in meat and hearty foods that will keep you running on the slopes. The main reasons to eat at the Dragon Valley Hotel breakfast buffet are convenience, price, opening early, and great selection.

I actually enjoyed the buffet at YongPyong Resort. I did NOT want to eat there because I deeply dislike buffet food. However, the Dragon Valley Hotel buffet made me eat my words. They had an excellent selection that they maintained the food very well. I will absolutely go here for breakfast when I am in the area. It was 19,000 won when we went, but prices are subject to change.

Day 2: Morning Ski

Literally don’t sleep on skiing in the morning. You can miss many of the crowds and have some excellent snow.

Day 2: Lunch at the Ski Slope Food Court

Yongpong Ski Resort has a sizeable food court where you can easily take a break in the middle of the day. Remember that everyone else will also be taking a break at lunch, so allow plenty of time to eat. We chose to eat on the road but also recommend eating at the resort to keep life simple.

Day 2: Head home around 12:00 or 1:00 pm to to beat traffic

Traffic home on a Sunday can get quite intense if you need to return to Seoul or drive through Seoul. Leaving earlier in the day will keep the day less stressful and allow you to arrive home in time for dinner.

Day 2: Grab Dinner Before Getting Back to the House

Stop dinner on the way home! After a long weekend, we often go to California Roll & Sushi. Since they also LOVE snowboarding we can enjoy dinner and chat about the weekend. The perfect end to the day. We even order mountain-themed sushi roll to keep on theme.

California Roll And Sushi⁵

0316114809

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기도 평택시 목천로 64-3

A sushi restaurant with California roots. A must try for sushi roll lovers.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Join the Pyeongtaek Travelers Group

You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Travelers. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly travelers (most who live in Pyeongtaek, South Korea) sharing their adventure across the country.

Volunteer with South of Seoul

Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

Lanae Rivers-Woods, MAIT

Lanae Rivers-Woods moved to Korea in 2011 where she lives in the countryside with her family, friends, and puppies. She holds a BSSW (Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work), a MAIT (Master’s of Arts in International Teaching), and registered by the Pyeongtaek Korean Times with the Korean government as a Cultural Expert.

Ms. Rivers-Woods used her 15 years experience as a social architect, UX/UI designer, and technology consultant to found South of Seoul in 2015. South of Seoul is a volunteer organization that leverages technological tools to mitigate cultural dissonance in multi-cultural communities.

Through South of Seoul, Ms. Rivers-Woods works with independent volunteers, non-profit organizations, businesses, local & federal government, universities, and US military organizations to develop solutions to support English speaking international residents in rural South Korea.

Additionally, Ms. Rivers-Woods founded the South of Seoul smart phone app available for Google Play and iPhone. The app provides information a resources for those living and traveling in South Korea.

When she isn’t in South of Seoul development meetings or working her day job, Ms. Rivers-Woods loves to be outside at skate parks, the beach, or playing in the mountains.

www.southofseoul.net

The post Dragon Valley Hotel and Yongpong Ski Resort Weekend Itinerary for Lazy People appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

About Skiing in Gangwon-do

Gangwondo has a variety of resorts and offers the best skiing and snowboarding in South Korea. Gangwon-do takes up the northeastern part of South Korea. Mountains cover the vast majority of Gangwon-do. If you love skiing or snowboarding, you will love a day on the slopes of the ski resorts included in this blog post . As always, you can find such resorts in the South of Seoul app which can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Gangwon-do hosted the 2018 winter Olympics which means a number of ski resorts like Aplensia Ski Resort received a little extra funding to make things extra nice. The area looks like a classic western ski resort. This resort feels like you have been transported to Colorado while the neighboring Yongpyong Ski Resorts feels like classic Korea in all the best ways.

Ski Season in Gangwon-do

Depending on the weather, the ski season in Gangwondo runs from December through March. If you have questions about ski season you can contact 1330. Calling to check on the status of the slopes is especially important during the early and late ski season or during warm winters.

Snow Conditions in Gangwon-do

During the early and last season, much of the snow on the slopes may be man-made. To get the best snow, ski in the morning and evening. Additionally, soft and powdery days do exist if you get lucky but it will not be knee-deep.

Managing Snow Expectations

Obviously, it’s better at Whistler but don’t live anywhere near Canada. Skiing in Korea isn’t about the fact the slopes are perfect. It’s about a passion for the snow and carving your joy down a mountain. It’s about time with family and friends. It’s about pushing yourself to try new things, in a new play, in a new way.

If you are a super picky snow connoisseur who can’t enjoy life if the slopes are not exactly like that one resort you visited somewhere else once on a perfect snow day, skiing in Gangwon-do might not be your thing. No one is trying to sell you Korea as the world’s best ski destination. We encourage you to stay home mad about it this weekend and miss the joyful feeling of wind in your hair, fresh mountain air, and stunning mountain views.

Resort Route Maps Available on Naver Maps

The Naver Maps app makes it easy to see what routes exist at each ski resort. Since Naver Maps has an English language option, you can use the app to easily navigate between ski lifts during your trip. You can use the app to answer questions you have regarding difficulty level, number of lifts, number of runs, and more.

Naver Maps uses the following colors for the following difficulty levels:

• Green = Beginner
• Blue = Intermediate
• Red = Difficult

When you zoom in on the map, you can also see which lifts take you to each part of the run. Some runs may require two lifts and other lifts may provide access to more than one run. All of this detail can be easily accessed through Naver Maps.

Tips for What to Take

A few quick tips for packing for your trip to the mountains:

• Dress in layers when you are in the mountains. The weather changes quickly and you want to avoid either sweating or getting chilled. Additionally, when you are in action you may get hot and when are taking a rest you may get cold. Dress so that you can easily adjust to changing temps.
• Dress for the wind. Wear hats, gloves, and jackets that can withstand strong winds. One of the biggest concerns is not really the temperature but the wind chill.
• A spare battery or portable charger. Your phone will have limited life in the cold and you will likely need your phone for reconnecting with others after you finish your runs.
• Hat and gloves. These items generally are not rentable gear.
• Glove liners that work with a smartphone. Since route information is on Naver Maps it can be helpful to be able to use your phone while you are on the slopes.
• Shoes that can handle ice and snow. Consider your footwear carefully.
• Snacks. Sometimes you can get crazy desperate for calories on a run. Keep something in your giant jacket pockets. Makes sure it’s something you can easily eat with gloves on. Great time for a power bar and a bad time for potato chips.
• Games to play at the end of the day. Pack the VR set or board games so that you have a fun activity in your room at the end of the day. You might be too tired to go out but still, feel like having fun.

Lift Tickets

Lift tickets are available for purchase in-person at each Gangwon-do resort or online. They can be purchased for the morning, afternoon, evening, and all day, and some resorts even offer one-run passes. Additionally, annual passes can be purchased. Prices vary by resort. Online and in-person lift ticket purchases may vary. If you are determined to pre-purchase tickets, you can use a bi-lingual concierge service.

Skiing in Gangwon-do for Beginners

Don’t hesitate to try skiing or snowboarding in South Korea. Due to the fact gear is easy to rent and lift ticket prices are affordable, there has never been a better time fall in love with either skiing or snowboarding. If you hate the slopes, you can enjoy the surrounding lodges and mountain views.

Gangwon-do ski resorts generally have ski and snowboard instructors for all ages and lessons can often be scheduled on the same day. Of course, reservations will help ensure a more smooth process. Because of the pandemic, ski and snowboard class schedules and class sizes may vary based on current local procedures. You can use a bi-lingual concierge service to help schedule your lessons.

Some resorts may have a small slope where beginner ski and snowboarders can walk up the baby slope and practice their skills for free. Such access varies depending on the resort. This can make learning quite affordable. We often spend a few hours on these slopes at the beginning of each ski season getting back in the groove before taking the lift.

As a beginner, no one expects you to be on the slopes all day. Plan for a few hours and then take a rest and reflect on your experience. Nobody has to be a hero on the first day. Give yourself permission to be terrible, to spend most of the day in the lodge, enjoy things at your own pace, and be happy about just showing up.

Lift Ticket Discounts

Korean ski resorts offer lift ticket discounts via a variety of platforms such as KLOOK, Coupang, Yanolja, GMarket, Auction, and more. Many of these apps require a Korean ID and banking information to make purchases.

X3 Multi Resort Ski Passes in Korea

In 2021 YongPong, Phoenix Pyeongchang, and High1 Resort began offering the X3 Season pass. The prices ranged from 400,000 – 650,000 won for the ski season depending on when and where the passes are purchased. Hopefully, more multi-pass ski resort options will become available in future years. If you are determined to get a lift ticket multi-pass, you can use a bi-lingual concierge service.

Gear Rental at Gangwon-do Ski Resorts

Each ski resort may have a different rental situation as they are all managed and operated under different conditions. While some may offer ski and snowboard rentals while others may need you to rent from nearby independent rental shops. We often prefer indie rental shops as they may offer 24-hour rentals which means we can ski in the evening and in the morning.

Independent rental shops also offer goggles, jackets, pants, and helmet rentals (gloves and hats you usually need to bring). We have easily found clothing for women up to size 16. Such rentals are also surprisingly affordable. Around 15,000 – 45,000 for the day depending on what you need.

7 Best Gangwon-do Ski Resorts

You can’t go wrong with any of the ski resorts in Gangwon-do.

High1 Ski Resort⁰

1588-7789

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 정선군 고한읍 하이원길 424

A popular ski and snowboarding resort in southern Gangwondo.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Want to know more about High1 Resort? Check this blog by Molly Hayden.

Yongpyong Ski Resort⁰

033-335-5757

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 올림픽로 715

Korea’s first ski resort. A wide variety of runs.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Phoenix Ski Resort⁰

1588-2828

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 봉평면 태기로 174

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Alpensia Ski Resort⁰

033-339-0318

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 평창군 대관령면 솔봉로 325

One of Korea’s newest ski resorts. Made popular by the 2018 Winter Olympics. Great for snowboarders.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Welli Hilli Ski Resort⁵

1544-8833

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 횡성군 둔내면 고원로 451

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Vivaldi Ski Resort⁰

1588-4888

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 홍천군 서면 한치골길 262

Located on the west side of Gangwondo, Vivaldi is easy to reach from Seoul.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Elysian Ski Resort⁰

033-260-2000

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 춘천시 남산면 북한강변길 688

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Learn More About Resorts in Gyeonggi-do

Gyeonggi-do also has a number of smaller resorts that may offer easier access.

Learn More About Back Country Skiing in South Korea

One company does offer backcountry skiing and you can learn more on the South of Seoul blog.

South of Seoul

Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.

www.southofseoul.net

The post 7 Best Ski Resorts in Gangwon-do appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

You can ski at midnight at Jisan Forest near Seoul and Pyeongtaek. A fun spot to blow off some steam after work if you don’t mind dodging the people.

About Jisan Forest Ski Resort

It’s not the highest, the largest, or the best ski resort in South Korea, but Jisan Forest Resort has its perks. It boasts seven small runs suited for beginners and is perfect for those wanting to hone their skills. It’s an easy drive and with tickets sold in chunks of a few hours, and late-night offerings available, it makes for a fun trip – day or night.  

Jisan Forest Ski Resort⁰

031-644-1200

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 이천시 마장면 지산로 267

A small ski slope that uses mostly artificial snow. Great for beginners.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Location of Jisan Forest Ski Resort

Jisan Forest Resort is located in Icheon, a short 45-minute jaunt from both Pyeongtaek and Seoul (if you manage the latter without traffic). The road to enter the parking lot and resort is a bit windy and bumpy, so use caution and drive slowly. Parking is free and lots fill up on the weekends. 

Runs at Jisan Forest Ski Resort

Runs are numbered 1-3 (beginners) and 5-8 (intermediate/advanced), beginning on the left if you are facing the slopes. Notice run 4 is skipped, as the number 4 is a symbol of bad luck here in South Korea. The largest vertical drop of the advanced hill measures around 200 meters.  

Tips for Beginners at Jisan Forest Ski Resort

If you hike up the tiny beginners’ hill all the way to the left, you can ski for free. This is great for absolute beginners learning their equipment, or to practice before getting on the lift. Once you take a lift or the magic carpet, the time on your ski pass begins. They also have a sledding hill located all the way to the right. 

If you are a beginner, stay on the beginner’s hills. Even as an advanced skier, I found the intermediate hills to be hazardous due to the number of inexperienced riders. So many boarders and skiers were crashing into riders below them. 

Be Careful of Others and Watchout for Yourself

Anytime you are on the slope, it is your responsibility to take care not to run into anyone downhill from you. Unfortunately, this was not the case at Jisan Forest and we witnessed numerous injuries. The intermediate runs also seemed to be the most crowded. If you’re advanced, stick to run 6, and if you’re a beginner, runs 1-3 are best. 

Gear at Jisan Forest Ski Resort

All gear is available to rent at two different shops at the resort. Make sure to rent next to the slope you intend to ski so you’re not schlepping gear unnecessarily far. Masks are required; helmets are encouraged. 

Costs at Jisan Forest Ski Resort

Overall Jisan Forest is priced higher than I would expect for what you get. The cost is more or comparable to larger ski resorts like High1 will have far fewer runs and altitudes, and the prices for lessons at the ski school are more than double. But since it’s closer (45 minutes drive vs. 2.5 hours drive) is maybe worth the money spent. They did offer a military discount on the lift ticket for those who have an ID, but no price cut for kids, so my 6-year-old’s ticket ended up costing more than mine. Discounts are also available at 30% off when you pay with an affiliated credit card from Shinhan, KB, NH or Hana banks. 

Prices are as follows:

Adult/Child

• 2 hours: 55,000 / 40,000
• 3 hours: 60,000 / 45,000
• 4 hours: 65,000 / 47,000
• 6 hours: 72,000 / 52,000

*Note these are the prices listed at the resort and differ greatly from what is listed on their website. 

The lift card has a 1000 won deposit. There are machines to turn them in at the end of the day to receive your deposit back. 

Hours and Times for Jisan Forest Ski Resort

Hours for skiing are weekdays, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m., weekend Fri-Sat, 9 a.m. – 4 a.m. 

Runs are closed for grooming 5- 6:30 p.m., Sun-Thursday; and 5- 6:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. – 12 a.m. Fri-Sat. 

Jisan Forest Ski School Info

For more info visit https://www.jisanresort.co.kr/en/index.asp, ski school information can be found here: http://laurenkidschool.com/. Then, after class you can try to ski at midnight at Jisan Forest.

Molly Hayden

Journalist Molly Hayden has worked in the journalism field in Germany and the United States. In 2021 she relocated to South Korea.

As a volunteer Cultural Liason and Content Creator, Ms. Hayden reports on a variety of life & style topics with a focus on families living in rural South Korea.

The post Want to ski at midnight? Head to Jisan Forest!  appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

Have you been looking for a spot to ski this winter? In my opinion, High1 Resort offers some of the best skiing in South Korea.

About High1 Resort

High1 is located in Gangwon-do, South Korea. The resort opened in 2006 in order to bring additional revenue to the declining mining towns of Gohan and Sabuk. High1 remains one of the largest ski resorts in South Korea. The ski slopes reach three different “mountain tops” with peak elevation being 4,514 ft above sea level. The slopes offer excellent skiing for beginner to advanced.

High1 Ski Resort⁰

1588-7789

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

강원 정선군 고한읍 하이원길 424

A popular ski and snowboarding resort in southern Gangwondo.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

My High1 Ski Resort Expectations

I learned to ski in the Alps and for the following decade, I trampled through various countries, slopes, and terrain that can’t be measured here. So for my first trip to High1 Ski Resort, I tempered expectations. South Korea’s skiable mountains are closer to the Appalachians than the Alps with two more glaring differences: artificial snow and no après ski. 

My High1 Ski Resort Experience

Even though things might not have been the best based on global standards, here is why I think High1 Resort offers some of the best skiing in South Korea.

Once I strapped on my gear, though, it didn’t matter. The summit at High1 provided the same sensation of barreling down a mountain, with lifts that reach challenging heights. It’s not the Alps, but it’s likely the best place to ski on the peninsula and the highest elevation in the country. 

The Snow at High1 Resort

The resort is equipped with lifts and ski slopes for all levels from beginners to expert. While it doesn’t have a bunny slope, or a magic carpet, the practice hill is flat enough to learn safely and steep enough to learn quickly. The gondola takes you back up to the top for those who haven’t mastered chair lifts yet. 

The snow is manmade, lending itself to be a bit icier than natural snow, but the elevation is high enough that fresh snow does sometimes dust the artificial. There are 18 slopes total covering 21 kilometers, all well-groomed. Although not all of the runs were operational in December, more are likely to open in January and as the ski season progresses. Between three gondolas and seven chair lifts, there is a lot of ground to cover and a few long runs that make it worth it. 

Ski School at High1 Resort

Ski school, I was told, is closed due to covid, but the surrounding towns in the valleys had numerous rental shops and lessons available. Best to just drop in and inquire. Between my Papago app, and a tiny bit of Korean, I was able to easily set up lessons for my 6-year-old. The instructor spoke minimal English, but it didn’t stop my son from learning to ski like a pro after three days. 

Gear Rental at High1 Resort

The resort itself does offer rental gear as well, but you have to return items each day. If you’re night skiing, you have to return your gear and rent it out again two hours later. If you plan on skiing for multiple days, getting gear at one of the shops in town is a better deal and much more efficient. They rent everything, including pants and jackets. If you’re there for a few hours only, renting on the mountain may be easier, but it will be more expensive.  

Smaller items like socks, gloves, goggles, and base layers are available for limited purchase at the resort ski shop. 

Locker Rentals at High1 Resort

Locker rentals at the bottom of the slopes make it easier to store gear for multi-day trips. They rent for either a day or a week, so if you’re there for a few days, the weekly rental is your best option. Weekly rates are 20,000 won for a 2-person locker or 40,000 for a 4-person. Helmets are required and are available to rent for free at the resort. 

Other Things to Do at High1 Resort

If skiing isn’t your thing, you can still enjoy the snow with tube sledding or hit the nearby water park. Note, that the water park is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Passes/Hours at High1 Resort

Slopes are open from 8:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. with no skiing during the early evening, 4-6 p.m. while the runs are groomed. Passes are available for purchase in a variety of hours – 3, 4, 5, and 7, – or all day for both day and night skiing. 

Prices are as follows in won: 

• Adult/Child
• 3 hours: 54,000 / 43,000
• 4 hours: 60,000 / 48,000
• 5 hours: 66,000 / 53,000
• 7 hours: 74,000 / 58,000 (for skiing during all daytime hours)
• All day: 94,000 / 74,000 (for both day and night skiing) 

Hotels at High1 Resort

There are numerous places to stay on the resort grounds, including small hotel rooms, or bigger, multi-room condos. Each allows you to walk to the slopes, and some have kitchens available for covid-safe dining. Ours was stocked with pots, pans, plates, cups, silverware, and even a rice cooker (no microwave). For any hotel in Korea, bring your own bath towel if you wish to dry off with something larger than a hand towel. You can often find deals for stays on apps like Agoda, or contact the concierge and ask for foreigner discounts. 

If you stay at the resort, you’ll receive a coupon book for discounts on ski passes, rentals, food, and more. (You can also ask for this coupon book at the customer service desk. They are usually willing to offer it). I read on numerous blogs that if you bring your passport, you can get a 40% foreigner discount on lift tickets, but this was not my experience, and I tried a few different days. 

To save some cash, stay at one of the numerous hotels down in the valleys. While you lose the ease of walking to the mountain, it’s an easy 5-minute drive, and taxis are plentiful, too. 

Food Near High1 Resort

Food is in abundance both inside and outside. You can easily grab a can of hot chocolate to down in-between runs from the outdoor shack, or relax and sip on some warm broth in the cafeteria inside. Vaccines are required and every facility took our USFK Form 49s. Hit the mountain top restaurant for amazing views and Instagrammable moments. 

Getting to High1 Resort 

High1 is roughly a 2.5-hour drive from Pyeongtaek. It’s doable for a day trip, although ambitious. Like any resort, it gets crowded on the weekends. Parking is free and plentiful but can fill up fast on weekends and holidays. 

Covid Precautions

As of January 2022 masks are required and balaclavas are not a substitute. You are allowed to wear a balaclava or Buff over your mask, but the mask must be visible. Proof of vaccination is required to enter any of the indoor dining facilities. COOV app or USFK Form 49 is accepted everywhere. 

More winter sports in South Korea

Molly Hayden

Journalist Molly Hayden has worked in the journalism field in Germany and the United States. In 2021 she relocated to South Korea.

As a volunteer Cultural Liason and Content Creator, Ms. Hayden reports on a variety of life & style topics with a focus on families living in rural South Korea.

The post High1 Resort Offers Some of the Best Skiing in South Korea appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.

About Skiing in Gyeonggi-do

Let’s be honest. The ski slopes in Gyeonggi-do are not spectacular for many reasons such as they use mostly fake snow, there are tons of people, the runs are short, and tons of other things that skiing purists will rant about. However, if you love skiing and being outside none of that really matters. You can have fun at any slope because you just love being outside.

The world is a dynamic place and not every country has access to every climate and sometimes it’s great to simply be outside on the slopes and not fixate on if it’s “the best in the whole world.” It doesn’t need to be the best to still be a VERY fun day with friends. Let go of your expectations and go enjoy what skiing is in Gyeonggi-do, Korea without comparing. Take a chance and exist in the moment.

Gyeonggi Ski Reports Perfect for Beginners

Now, although skiing purists might now be happy, beginning skiers will likely have a blast on these slopes. They will have a variety of easy, short runs to practice their skills and not get too worn out. Beginners should absolutely take up skiing while in Korea.

About Korean Ski Season

Depending on the weather, the ski season runs from late November through March. During that time, much of the snow on Gyeonggi-do resorts is man-made. This means it will often be icy and hard due to the combination of manmade now, temps, and the number of people on the slopes.

About Gear Rental

The ski resorts rent just about everything you could need to go skiing. They also have different levels of rentals for different prices. They have general rentals and then high-end rentals. Regular rentals may range from 25,000 – 40,000 depending on the time of day and day of the week. Whereas high-end ski rentals may range from 40,000-50,000 depending on the time of day and day of the week.

You can rent from the ski resort itself or other smaller shops near the ski resort. Prices are often similar at all locations.

In addition to renting boots, boards, and bindings – you can also rent snow gear such as snowsuits. Gear rentals are available for kids and adults. Prices for gear rental may range from 10,000- 20,000 depending on different criteria.

Ticketing Times and Sample Prices

This is a sample price list pulled from the English Language site for Yong Pyong. Not all ski resorts follow the exact same pricing and timetable structure. However, this does give you a solid look at what might be available at each resort. You can contact 1330 to learn about the exact schedule at the resort of your choice.

You will notice that night skiing is a popular thing in Korea. This can be very nice for those who would like to go skiing after work. It’s actually quite easy to finish up work in Pyeongtaek and head to the slopes in Yongin or Icheon.

(units : ₩)

4 Gyeonggi-do Ski Slopes

These are organized by the closest to furthest from Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Pyeongtaek is the home to both Camp Humphreys Army Base and Osan Air Force Base.

Yangji Pine Ski Resort⁰

031-338-2001

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 용인시 처인구 양지면 남평로 112

Small ski resort in Yongin that uses mostly artificial snow.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Jisan Forest Ski Resort⁰

031-644-1200

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 이천시 마장면 지산로 267

A small ski slope that uses mostly artificial snow. Great for beginners.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Gonjiamri Ski Resort⁰

02-1661-8787

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 광주시 도척면 도척윗로 278

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

Bears Town Ski Resort⁴

031-540-5000

Copy and paste phone numbers into Naver Maps to get directions

Hangul Address

경기 포천시 내촌면 금강로2536번길 27

Possibly the best Gyeonggido Ski resort due to its northern location.

(Listing information provided by the South of Seoul app)

South of Seoul

Founded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea.

Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences.

www.southofseoul.net

The post Four Gyeonggi-do Ski Resorts appeared first on The South of Seoul Blog.